Totalism

Main article: List of Political Ideologies

The information in this article is part of an upcoming rework, and may not be reflected in other articles.

Totalism
Name	Totalism
Founded	20th Century
First Implemented	N/A
Situation	Medium-sized revolutionary Far-Left Ideology
Important Thinkers	Henry M. Hyndman, Georges Sorel
Leading Organisation	International Workers' Association
Important Parties	Labour Party (Maximism), Bloc Totaliste.
Political Position	Far-Left

Totalism refers to a loosely aligned grouping of political ideologies based around the tenets of authoritarian socialism though the exact specifics of these movements vary. With it roots in Sorelianism and so-called 'Mussolinism', the ideology as it currently stands is disparate and more a catch-all term for a group of loosely aligned and often Sorelian inspired movements though the term has been used, both self-described and derisively, for any authoritarian socialist movement or group. Allegedly the name totalism was first used during the 1920s in Oswald Mosley's early writings in reference to Benito Mussolini's 'totalitarian socialism' as the ideal basis for socialist states though this is disputed.

Overview

Totalism itself is not an ideology in itself but rather both a loose collection of ideologically similar movements but also as a catch-all term for authoritarian socialist movements. This is borne out of the name Totalism being used as a shorthand reference for both 'totalitarianism' and 'total commitment to the revolution'.

Totalism as an Ideological Group

Totalism as an ideological grouping is vague and has not been thoroughly adopted throughout the world. Despite this its main connotations are with Oswald Mosley, Benito Mussolini and Sorelianism. Mosley is often regarded as the group's ideological founder though he has simultaneously embraced and rejected this label, oftentimes instead referring to his own 'Maximism' being part of a wider confederation of totalitarian socialist ideologies rather than being a 'totalist' ideology in itself. To this end totalism as an ideological grouping has an overall muddled definition but is usually used for groups that affiliate with Sorelianism or Maximism.

Totalism as a Wider Label

Totalism is also often employed as a label for any totalitarian or authoritarian socialist group regardless of its affiliation to Oswald Mosley or his 'confederation of ideologues'. To this end it has been applied often to Leninist and 'Vanguardist' groups but also other more generic authoritarian socialist regimes and in some select cases socialist-aligned military juntas.

History

The origins of 'totalism' as an actual ideology or grouping under that name are obscure. According to Oswald Mosley's testimony he had been using it in his writings as far back as the mid-1920s during his travels across the world. Though the earliest mention of it by Mosley is in reference to 'Mussolinism' in the essay of the same and its adherence to a new breed of totalitarianism or 'totalism' as he shortened it too though it would dip out of his writings in favour of the term 'Maximism' for his ideology. The term would also be used in 'Essays on Sorelianism' in which he would briefly refer back to the "totalist Mussolinism" though it would not be mentioned in any real depth.

The term would again be use shortly after he would take high office when around this time Mosley began to amass international credentials. He and John Beckett would publish a short book: 'Totalism: The New Enlightenment' in which they first made reference to the 'confederation of ideologues' and that Totalism was not an idea in itself but the 'shared principles of leftist totalitarianism' and total state domination in support of the 'maximal revolution'. They argued this was the polar opposite of 'reactionary totalitarianism' which was deemed 'an advanced mutation of despotism' in contrast to the highly focused leftist totalitarianism. Beckett would write extensively on the subject though Mosley's chief ideologue Wilfred Risdon would speak decisively on the topic declaring:

"Totalism is not an ideology but an idea, a collection of ideas and to that end a sort of...loose alliance and alignment of various similar movements. When we refer to ourselves as totalists this is not to say we are ideologically totalists, we are far from it. We are Maximists...and Sorelians but being Maximists and Sorelians we belong to the ideas of Totalism, of the totalitarian society."

Around this time many groups would begin to adopt the label of 'totalism' but it would also begin to be used widely by groups that were not strictly part of the totalist milieu such as Mosley or Mussolini but rather generic authoritarian socialist groups. One of the first examples of this usage, albeit in a derisive tone, was with Jim Larkin Jr. referring to the Irish political party of Saor Éire has being 'totalist' in nature for their authoritarian bent, a label Peador O'Donnell would distance himself from. In Britain itself the term would be used in a self-proclaimed manner by Rajani Palme Dutt in his magazine, Labour Monthly, when he referred to 'totalism' in a broader context as being the evolution of Leninist style Vanguardism.

The future of Totalism remains vague and disjointed. Mosley had attempted to author a standardised 'charter' in the early 1930s though his would ultimately be scrapped. Regardless, Mosley and colleagues in the French and Italian 'totalist' left along with other totalist aligned movements have shown an interest to partake in the publication of a new charter though there has been no details for when this will materialise if ever. Regardless speculation on its potential contents abounds.

Political Principles

More in-depth information about this topic will be revealed with the future Third Internationale rework!

Forms of Totalism

More in-depth information about this topic will be revealed with the future Third Internationale rework!

British Sorelianism

Sorelianism, as practiced within the Union of Britain, shares numerous similarities to their ideological cohorts in France. Both groups place a heavy emphasis on the importance of class warfare and self-sacrifice. In addition, British Sorelians similarly despise an organized bureaucracy and democratic institutions. Diverging from French Sorelians, British Sorelians largely draw from the personal ideology of John Beckett, and lacks the deep personality cult which is apparent in French Sorelians. Instead, British Sorelians venerate Beckett's vision of leaders being "great instruments of state". For Beckett, the revolution cannot be led by single men, instead desiring a cabinet of equals shouldering the burden of continuing the revolution collectively. Another key difference is Beckett's opposition to paramilitarism, despite this, many of his supporters are drawn from the Blackshirts. Lastly, Beckett drew primarily not from Marx, but from Hyndman. The ideological roots of which form Hyndman's conception of "Defencism" and Mazzinianism. the ideological origins of the movement draw from Hyndman, his pro-war views, and his National Socialist Party which represented the right wing of the socialist movement. Interestingly, British Sorelians also tend towards a socially liberal worldview, also being a lot less religious than their French counterparts.

Totalist countries in 1936

State Name	Since	State Structure	Political Structure	Ruling Party	Head of State	Head of Government	State Symbols
(?)		(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)
(?)		(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)
(?)		(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)

Movements all around the world in 1936

Country	Party Name	Founded	Leader	Affiliated Organization	Situation
(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)
(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)
(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)	(?)