CRITICAL DISCOURSE OF TOTALITARIANISM IN FOREIGN HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE 1960S

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the reasons and the substantive content of the critical discourse on totalitarianism developed in foreign historiography of the 1960s. The analysis is based on the fundamental methodological principles of historical study: systemic approach of historicism and scientific objectivity. The research focuses on the works by famous foreign researchers in the area: H. Arendt, P. Sorokin, K. Friedrich, Z. Brzezinski, R. Мills, A. Ulam. The content of these works makes it possible to highlight the main methodological problems of critical discourse. The author criticizes the totalitarian model for its structural and external uniformity and lack of differentiation of totalitarian regimes. Revisionism in foreign historiography of the 1960s contributed to the study of Soviet society on the basis of sociological methodology by highlighting its high social mobility. The critical approach specifies the differences between communist and fascist systems and the peculiarities of individual communist regimes. However, the representatives of the critical approach failed to create a coherent theory compatible to the one offered by the adherents of totalitarianism. The critical discourse of totalitarianism in the 1960s contributed to the formation of a modernized concept of the phenomenon. The final part of the article contains the main conclusions of the discussion. The content and results of this article can be used in foreign historiography courses.

Keywords

• totalitarianism
• historiography
• dictatorship
• fascism
• communism
• critique