Οι μηχανισμοί κατάρρευσης ολοκληρωτικών καθεστώτων: ιδέες για την αναδιοργάνωση της συζήτησης

Abstract

In this article we argue that there is no single explanation for the break down of totalitarian regimes. Fascism has been simply defeated in a war it had provoked and could have never won. The drive for domination associated with its aggressive philosophy resulted in a kind of over-stretching. Communist regimes on the other hand, after some initial success in mobilizing resources, suffered a long-term stagnation and erosion of their legitimacy. The article organizes and examines critical several explanations offered in the literature pointing to factors such as political mistakes, historical accidents, unfavourable external environment, historical legacy and over-stretching. While recognizing that all of them have played a role, we suggest, well in accordance with older theories of bureaucracy (Max Weber) and new political economy approaches (Mancur Olson etc) that internal factors were mainly responsible for the final break-down.