How is totalitarianism different from authoritarianism?

While both totalitarianism and authoritarianism are forms of autocracy that restrict individual freedom, they differ significantly in their scope and methods of control.12

Totalitarianism seeks to subordinate every aspect of individual life to the state. It is defined by a highly developed, all-encompassing ideology and the use of a single, centrally directed party to mobilize the entire population toward specific national goals. Totalitarian regimes actively suppress traditional social organizations, replacing them with state-sanctioned ties, and utilize unpredictable, lawless police operations to maintain terror and ensure conformity.12

In contrast, authoritarianism primarily demands the blind submission of citizens to authority rather than total control over their private lives. Authoritarian states typically lack a comprehensive guiding ideology and often tolerate some traditional or special-interest social organizations. Furthermore, authoritarian governments generally lack the capacity to mobilize the entire population and usually operate within more predictable, established limits.2

Ultimately, while both systems are ethically deficient because they deny fundamental human autonomy and political liberty, totalitarianism is distinguished by its aggressive, systematic attempt to eliminate the boundary between the state and the individual.12