Strategic Policymaking in Totalitarian Governments : A Pathway to Survivability in the Modern World

Abstract

This project investigates the driving factors of policy and decision-making in totalitarian regimes and the implications for the survival and longevity of dictatorships in the modern era. This is relevant, as it addresses concerns regarding the presence of totalitarianism in an international system where democracy is threatened. To do this, the study implements the comparative analysis of four case studies (Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Xi Jinping’s China, and Kim Jong Un’s North Korea) supported with archival data, historical sources, and online databases (i.e., JSTOR and Google Scholar).The study found that policy-decision motivators (i.e., economic development, ideological adaptation, technology, and international engagement) allow modern totalitarian regimes to maintain power and longevity despite complex contemporary global challenges. Although totalitarian regimes have historically failed, resulting from motivators of economic isolationism and ideological rigidity, modern examples demonstrate the regime types’ ability to be adaptable, using both globalization and technology to sustain and advance their institutions. As a result, assuming they maintain adaptability, totalitarian regimes can survive in the current geopolitical landscape. The project contributes to the discipline by creating a strict definition of survivability, accompanied by a four-prong framework to implement it, and the consideration of technology in influencing policy decisions and survivability.