totalitarianism and authoritarianism should not be used interchangeably, they're opposites. Totalitarianism is mass mobilization and uninhibited violence, think

totalitarianism and authoritarianism should not be used interchangeably, they're opposites. Totalitarianism is mass mobilization and uninhibited violence, think Cultural Revolution, authoritarianism is, to quote Gibson given that we're in a thread about him, Singapore's 'Disneyland with the death penalty'. Radical depolitization. People are more apathetic than hateful (today's 'riots' hardly deserve the label by historical standards) and there is more of an indifference than a pessimism. You're not told what to think (or compelled to action), but rather told what not to say (or how not to act), and otherwise left alone.