Contemporary Theories of Political Economy Assignment

Contemporary Theories of Political Economy - Assignment Example Power in such regimes is completely centralized enabling power to concentrate on a few people and all those who dare to challenge or oppose them are cut out. Corruption and other forms of oppression are used to ensure that this person stays in power. The rules in most instances are not sensible but the people are sanctioned to fear rather than respect the laws as the rules are not aimed at improving the relationship between the leaders and the ones being led but to keep the leader in power.   In authoritarian regimes power is concentrated on an individual dictator, a group of dictators (junta) or a group of political elite individuals. The power they seek to control is political power. While a totalitarian regime is focused on all aspects of the state even private life’s for instance in Libya the north African state during the Gaddafi era. Totalitarianism stemmed from Italian fascism. In the 1920’s leaders such as Benito Mussolini were striving to sell dictatorship in a new package such that it would acceptable to the people. The Italian philosopher Giovanni Gentile an Italian philosopher played a big role in making people see this system in a positive light. Seeing as this was a new political system, it blossomed because of the curiosity, people wanted to see whether or not this system would work and whether it was going to be beneficial to both the leaders and the people. At around this time (1920-1930) most state leaders were striving to unite their people as there was political tension due to world war one. This was after all the period countries were gearing to world war.