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The Constitution of Totalitarianism

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Totalitarianism, Terrorism and Supreme Values

Part of the book series: Studies in Public Choice ((SIPC,volume 33))

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Abstract

Can totalitarianism have a constitution or is this not a contradiction of terms? For does totalitarianism not substitute the rule of terror for the rule of law? (Arendt 1951). In this chapter, we are going to show that totalitarianism constitutes a rational system (as already discussed by Brzezinski 1956) which binds population and leaders by stable long-lasting rules, which form an unwritten or written constitution. It is exactly this constitutional trait of totalitarianism which is one of the main differences distinguishing it from dictatorship or tyranny, since the latter are characterized by the uncontrolled discretionary power of the tyrant.

This chapter is republished with permission from J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck). Original Publication: Bernholz, Peter (1992): The Constitution of Totalitarianism’. Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics 147(3), 425–440.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Economics and Business (WWZ), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Peter Bernholz

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  1. Peter Bernholz
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Correspondence to Peter Bernholz .

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Bernholz, P. (2017). The Constitution of Totalitarianism. In: Totalitarianism, Terrorism and Supreme Values. Studies in Public Choice, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56907-9_7

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