Totalitarianism is a political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. This form of governance often involves a single-party rule, suppression of dissent, and extensive use of propaganda to maintain power and control over the populace. In a totalitarian regime, individual freedoms are severely restricted, and the government often employs surveillance and censorship to eliminate opposition. Historical examples include Nazi Germany and Stalinist Soviet Union, where leaders exerted extreme control over their citizens' lives, shaping ideology and behavior through fear and manipulation.