Defence of a Concept: Raymond Aron and Totalitarianism

In: Totalitarian movements and political religions, Band 2, Heft 3, S. 121-142

Abstract

French sociologist Raymond Aron was among the first scholars to establish the concept of totalitarianism. He described, explained, & discussed how & why fascist & communist ideologies took the form of antihuman regimes. This article recommends Aron's critical use of the concept for future studies of authoritarian government. Aron did not aim to establish either a systematic or a general descriptive theory, but suggested a dynamic use of the concept on the basis of Max Weber's historical sociology. Aron's originality lay in the way he combined political theory, a study of international relations, & history writing. Totalitarianism was a guiding concept in Aron's liberal interpretation of history & in his pragmatic policy recommendations to French governments from the 1930s to his death in 1983. Adapted from the source document.