20 Tuesdays
Lesson #14: Totalitarianism destroys the distinction between public and private life.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to #20Tuesdays: 20 lessons from Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism.
As we barrel toward another election, I wanted to create a space for people to come together.
Thinking back on the past ten years of teaching Origins, I’ve made a list of the most important lessons from Arendt’s work that students return to time and again. From now until November 5th, I will share one lesson with you on Tuesdays.
You can find past posts here.
Until Tuesday,
Sam
Lesson #14: Totalitarianism destroys the distinction between public and private life.
Key quote:
Isolation and impotence, that is the fundamental inability to act at all, have always been characteristic of tyrannies. Political contacts between men are severed in tyrannical government and the human capacities for action and power are frustrated. But not all contacts between men are broken and not all human capacities destroyed. The whole sphere of private life with the capacities for experience, fabrication and thought are left intact. We know that the iron band of total terror leaves no space for such private life and that the self-coercion of totalitarian logic destroys man’s capacity for experience and thought just as certainly as his capacity for action.
Core idea:
Ideology, terror, and political propaganda destroy the distinction between public and private life, making spontaneous political action impossible, while also destroying one’s ability to retreat from the public realm of appearances.
Defining “Public”
The public political realm is where people come together and appear before one another in speech and action. For Arendt, this is the realm of freedom. It is where we come together to debate, deliberate, and make decisions about the common good. And it is where we distinguish ourselves through word and deed, which requires courage.
Defining “Private”
The private realm, the realm of the home, or oikia, is where we retreat from the public realm, from the light of public life. At home, we go inside and nourish ourselves in solitude, alone with ourselves, and with family and friends where we can just be. The home is a sphere of inequality, whereas the polis, the public realm is a realm of equality.
What happens when the distinction between private and public collapses?
The destruction of the boundary between public and private life is one of the most insidious aspects of totalitarianism.
Under totalitarianism, people no longer have a protected space where they can think or act freely, away from the reach of the movement.
For Arendt, thinking requires solitude, that is, one forms their thoughts in private, and then one expresses their thoughts in public. If one no longer has a private space where they can retreat to in order to think, one loses the ability to think for themselves.
Some ways totalitarian movements destroy the distinction between public and private
Destruction of spontaneity
People are not allowed to hold personal opinions or beliefs that differ from the ideology of the movement. Totalitarianism seeks to control every aspect of a person’s life, dictating what they should think, feel, and do. This leaves no room for free, spontaneous thinking or action.
Surveillance
Totalitarian regimes deploy extensive surveillance networks that penetrate the most intimate parts of people’s lives. Citizens are encouraged, or even forced, to spy on their neighbors, friends, and family members, creating a culture of fear and distrust. The culture of surveillance creates a culture of suspicion and isolation.
Atomization
This leads to atomization. Breaking down the distinction between public and private life enables the atomization of individuals, who are cut off from forming meaningful personal relationships with one another, because they live in a constant state of fear and suspicion of each other. People are unable to trust their closest relatives and friends, and this isolation makes people more vulnerable to manipulation and control since they can no longer rely on support from their family or community.
Elimination of Political Debate
Any form of political opposition or independent thinking is banned. Political rallies, or debates if they occur, are not for the discussion of ideas, but instead are only orchestrated performances or demonstrations that reinforce the loyalty of the members.
The Destruction of the Civic Institutions
Traditional institutions, such as political parties, labor unions, independent media, and religious organizations, are dismantled. And without these intermediary space that offer people a place of belonging in society, individuals are left feeling rootless.
Questions for conversation
Where do you see the boundary between private and public life collapsing today?
How important is it for you to have a private place where you can retreat from the gaze of the public and/or political scrutiny?
How does surveillance culture impact our sense of privacy individually and collectively?
Thank you for reading!
Until Tuesday,
Sam
spot on lesson today, Sam. i'm feeling saturated in my solitude by politics, the desecration of the biosphere, wildfires, droughts, floods, species extinction, wanton cruelty, violence, the demise of our stand-in democracy, the spectre of fascism, the MidEast, the Sudan, Ukraine, 90million refugees - its totally important for me to have a private space in the best times and in our time - thanks for asking
I, too, long for private space to think. Though, as a semi-nomad, I often find myself in isolated spaces, a beach, a canyon, a desert valley, etc. I assume having a dedicated place would probably more apt for the kind of thinking we're called to. As Risa mentioned, sometimes there seem to be too many fires going on at once. Yet, I still choose to see the glass half full--democracy will survive, Ukraine is doing a monumental job fending off a world power, the Middle East will have to come to a resolution, and we must definitely give more attention to the Sudan crisis. Lots to think about!
Thanks for the post.