War Propaganda Produced by Democracies and Totalitarian Regimes Essay

War Propaganda Produced by Democracies and Totalitarian Regimes - Essay Example In this respect, democracies and totalitarian regimes have emerged to serve diverse and dynamic purposes across the globe. War involving states or countries within and across national borders has been a common concept since time immemorial. Countries and continents have engaged other countries and continents in war. The first and second world wars serve as critical examples in this respect. Both democracies and totalitarian regimes have been involved in wars, the only difference being the way they conduct their business in every aspect of the war they engage in (Sondrol, 2009, p.157). War propaganda has and still is specifically notable in both democracies and totalitarian regimes. However, differences emerge in respect to the war propaganda produced by democracies and that produced by totalitarian regimes. To understand the principles of war propaganda in both democracies and totalitarian regimes, it is vital to consider the basis upon which democracies and totalitarian regimes oper ate and function within power and authority of governance and leadership. Governing the people entails critical decision making on behalf of the people (Clark, 1997, p.259). To aid this process, different political systems are adopted, with each system depicting aspects of democracy or totalitarianism. For example, different countries around the world exhibit aspects of socialism, capitalism, or communism. Democracy in governance and leadership embraces the difference between all persons involved. The power and authority of governance rests in the people. In other words, the people are treated as equals by the law, and their fundamental rights and freedoms that pertain to voicing their opinions in legislative processes are observed. In democracies, constitutions are vital in ensuring a smooth flow of governance and leadership without oppression by the tyranny of the majority players in the political system (Welch, 2001, p.105). Britain, for example, is governed under monarchism, wit h its constitution being unwritten. However, the country is a democracy, just like the United States among others. The constitution is the supreme law that guides leadership and governance in democracies. Any decisions that intend to affect people’s lives must significantly involve the people before they are upheld. People practice their freedom of speech within the provisions of their democratic rights. Democracy also encompasses press freedom by allowing press autonomy. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press provides for support or critique of the current regime in democracies, allowing the people to have a given level of control over their lives (Kershaw, 2004, p.14). On the other hand, totalitarian regimes are the complete opposite of democracies. The United Kingdom today cannot compare to the Hitler regime that oppressed the people. The power and authority of a totalitarian regime is not limited, and the personal and private life of the people is controlled by the to talitarian regime in every aspect. People governed within totalitarian regimes have little or no say to any decisions made regarding their lives. Propaganda in totalitarian regimes is a critical concept due to the fact that the popularity and the public favour those totalitarian regimes seek rests in propaganda. This is the primary basis of retaining power and authority in totalitarian regimes. In order to critically capture the difference be