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Single Idea 20941

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / c. Despotism]

Full Idea

A totalitarian party ensures that members find in that particular party all the satisfactions that they formerly found in a multiplicity of organisations. They break the threads that bind them to extraneous cultural organisms.

Gist of Idea

Totalitarian parties cut their members off from other cultural organisations

Source

Antonio Gramsci (Selections from Prison Notebooks [1971], 2 'Organisation')

A Reaction

British parties traditionally had a 'club house', where you could do most of your socialising. Presumably Nazis left the church, and various interest groups.

Book Reference

Gramsci,Antonio: 'Selections from Prison Notebooks', ed/tr. Hoare,Q./Nowell Smith,G [Lawrence and Wishart 1978], p.265