Abstract

The concept of totalitarianism as an “ideal type” found its fullest realization in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.1 Following the Soviet collapse, scholars gained access to an enormous amount of information concerning the inner workings of the Soviet system and the intentions of the Soviet leadership. For the first time, comprehensive data concerning the functioning of the coercive apparatus, the scope of terror and deportations, and, perhaps most important, the true extent of the militarization of Soviet economy and society is now available. These data allow a much better understanding of Soviet reality and of 20th century totalitarian…