Totalitärliknande

Totalitärliknande is a Swedish term used in political analysis to describe regimes or political conditions that resemble totalitarianism in certain respects, but do not necessarily fulfill all criteria of classic totalitarian theory. The expression signals a position on a spectrum between authoritarian rule and totalitarian mobilization, rather than a fixed category. In scholarly and media discourse, it is employed to denote regimes that show intensive control, ideological mobilization, and coercive practices, without confirming the full internal coherence of a true totalitarian system.

Typical features that may be described as totalitärliknande include centralization of power in a leader or ruling faction, suppression of political pluralism, extensive use of propaganda and censorship, a pervasive security apparatus, and attempts to guide or mobilize civil society through a state-driven ideology. However, such regimes may lack one or more canonical elements of totalitarian theory, for example a single mass party with a comprehensive, state-enforced ideology, or a consistently organized system of terror across society.

Context and debate: The label is controversial because "totalitarianism" is itself contested and thresholds vary. Some scholars reserve "totalitär" for regimes meeting a specific historical prototype, while others deploy "totalitärliknande" to describe observable tendencies or risks toward total control, especially during crises or transitions.

Usage: The term often appears in historical analyses of the 20th century and in contemporary discussions of democratic backsliding, where authorities expand surveillance, censorship, and political coercion while maintaining some formal institutions.

Etymology and scope: The compound is formed from totalitär (totalitarian) and liknande (similar). It is primarily used in Swedish-speaking scholarship and media, though similar formulations exist in other languages to capture gradations in regime types.