Human dignity and the «will to rule»: methods of influencing a person in totalitarianism and democracy

Abstract

This article focuses on the controversial nature of the person-state relationship, which, in particular, is manifested in the discrepancy between declared principles, such as the declaration of human dignity, and its violation by political regimes, specifically totalitarianism and democracy. This is referred to in the article as the concept of «will to rule», which is interpreted as attempts to impose one’s will on others – through coercive technologies (totalitarian regime) or «voluntary subordination» (democratic system). The article clarifies that human aggressiveness is more closely related to socio-cultural factors, such as people's susceptibility to manipulative influences—for example, the amplification of perceived threats that may not actually exist (Erich Fromm). It is shown that individuals' susceptibility to various influences is conditioned by a range of personal factors, including uncritical perception of information, as well as the manner in which the information is presented – with assertiveness, simplicity, and reductionism (Gustave Le Bon). The article outlines that the preconditions for the emergence of totalitarian movements include, among other things, social atomization and individualization, later supplemented by threats through «purges» (Hannah Arendt). It emphasizes that a defining feature of the modern era is the emergence of a “post-truth” situation, in which the boundaries between truth and deception become blurred, and the primary emphasis shifts to appeals to emotions and personal opinions. The article demonstrates that in democratic systems, governance is often exercised through the shaping of tastes, the instilling of ideas, persuasion, and suggestion—largely through the mass media (Edward Bernays). It argues that one of the new features of governance is the application of the «soft power» principle, which is based on persuasion and attractiveness and is expected to become the foundation of daily democratic politics (Joseph Nye).