What measures ensured compliance with authoritarian policies?

Authoritarian regimes ensured compliance with their policies through propaganda, censorship, surveillance, and the use of force.

Propaganda is a powerful tool used by authoritarian regimes to shape public opinion and ensure compliance with their policies. This involves the dissemination of information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, to promote a political cause or point of view. The Nazi regime in Germany, for instance, used propaganda to manipulate public opinion and create an environment of fear and conformity. This was achieved through the use of mass media, including newspapers, radio, and film, to spread their ideology and suppress dissent.

Censorship is another measure used by authoritarian regimes to control information and suppress dissent. This involves the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information that may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the government. For example, the Soviet Union under Stalin heavily censored the media and literature to prevent the spread of ideas that were contrary to the official state ideology. This created a climate of fear and self-censorship, ensuring compliance with the regime's policies.

Surveillance is also a common measure used by authoritarian regimes to monitor the activities of their citizens and suppress dissent. This can involve the use of technology, such as surveillance cameras and internet monitoring, as well as human intelligence, such as informants and secret police. For example, the East German Stasi was notorious for its extensive surveillance of the population, using a network of informants and secret police to monitor and suppress dissent.

Finally, the use of force is a key measure used by authoritarian regimes to ensure compliance with their policies. This can involve the use of police and military forces to suppress protests and dissent, as well as the use of detention, torture, and execution to punish those who oppose the regime. For example, the Chinese government used force to suppress the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989, resulting in a significant loss of life and a chilling effect on dissent.

In conclusion, authoritarian regimes use a combination of propaganda, censorship, surveillance, and force to ensure compliance with their policies. These measures create a climate of fear and conformity, suppressing dissent and promoting the regime's ideology.