Progressive Totalitarianism
('The 7 Stars') Common symbol of Progressive Totalitarianism, derived from an early symbol used by the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki.
('The 7 Stars') Common symbol of Progressive Totalitarianism, derived from an early symbol used by the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki.
Progressive Totalitarianism is a political ideology which has its stated goal as "the eternal and exponential progress and advancement of humanity to the highest degree possible", through the establishment of a totalitarian single-party state, progressive social policies and social corporatist mixed economics. Progressive Totalitarianism was firmly established at the 1st National Congress of Progressive Totalitarians, held in secret in the Ardokian capital of Ardea in August 1892. That very conference led to the creation of the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki as the very first Progressive Totalitarian political party (13 years later the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki formed the Totalitarian Republic of Ardoki, the world's first ever Progressive Totalitarian state). Progressive Totalitarianism has been termed "utopian", "socialist", "para-fascist" and even "communist" by some, however the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki adheres to the position that Progressive Totalitarianism is a completely unique ideology, which contains elements or similarities with various political ideologies while remaining separate from them.
In political science, Progressive Totalitarianism is considered a left-wing quasi-syncretic ideology. Economically, it is considered left-wing, sitting between the centre-left and the far-left (though leaning more toward the centre-left). Socially, the ideology is very progressive and liberal, and sits well on the left. However the totalitarian single-party nature of the ideology is similar to both the Marxist-Leninist and Fascist models, leading to the quasi-syncretic description of its views on the political system. Progressive Totalitarianism is also very anti-theist, supporting the adoption and enforcement of state-atheism. However Progressive Totalitarianism has been labelled a political religion by political scientists.
Political Theory
Progressive Totalitarianism believes that the state and the people should not be separate, but that all the people should be part of the state. In a Progressive Totalitarian society all the people make up the state, and the state's only reason for existence is to advance the progress of humanity. This involves securing and protecting the social rights of all people, and ensuring that they are economically secure. The state would be controlled by a Progressive Totalitarian political party (e.g. Ardoki is controlled by the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki), and all adults should (though it is not compulsory, non-membership would be viewed with suspicion and disdain) be members of the party, while all students would be enrolled in the party's youth organisation. The party would have complete control over society and the state.
Elections in a Progressive Totalitarian society (based off the system in the Totalitarian Republic of Ardoki) are hierarchical, with the citizens having the right to vote and run as candidates (only members of the party can run as candidates) to be elected to the Local Assemblies. The Local Assemblies then elect representatives to represent them in a Divisional Assembly (the Local Assembly can replace representatives at any time by majority vote). The Divisional Assemblies then elect members to the District Assemblies (and can replace them at any time as well through vote), which then elect to the Regional Assembly, then to the Provincial Assembly, and finally the National Assembly (the national legislature).
However in reality the National Assembly has no power, it is merely to rubber-stamp legislation approved by the party. The real power is with the Central Committee of the party and the Politburo. The Central Committee of the party (e.g. in Ardoki it is the Central Committee of the Progressive Totalitarian Labour Party of Ardoki) is compromised of a number (500 in Ardoki) of elected officials from the General Congress of the party (who are the top party officials), whom are elected every 5 years. The Central Committee usually meets once every month, where it oversees the actions of the Politburo and makes sure they are following the party line.
The Politburo (originally: Political Bureau) is the executive of the government and also the party. The leader of the Politburo is the General Secretary of the party and the head of government. The other members of the Politburo fill other executive functions such as government ministers and high-ranking party officials. The Politburo makes party and government policy, and introduces legislation into the National Assembly (which is always passed as the National Assembly is made up of party members which are loyal to the party, not the National Assembly). However the Politburo must have the approval of the Central Committee for things like declarations of war, government budgets, actions which effect the party or state in any major way.
The judiciary is technically separate from the party and government, however the party/government has the power to change and adjust laws as it likes to suit its needs, so in reality there is not really any separation.
Social Theory
Progressive Totalitarianism is very progressive and socially liberal in most regards, though in some areas it is lacking. Progressive Totalitarianism has always supported the concept of the absolute equality of all humans, whether man or woman, irrespective of ethnicity or disability. Things such as abortion, contraception, euthanasia, equal marriage (that includes incest and LGBT marriages), legalisation of being a prostitute and using one (though it is regulated to ensure that it is consensual and no one is harmed/exploited), decriminalisation of the possession of soft drugs for personal use (though you will still be fined if you are found with them, and making them and distributing is still a crime) are all encouraged and permitted by the ideology. LGBT people, women, different ethnicities, etc are all viewed as equal comrades. Progressive Totalitarianism is one of the most progressive and socially liberal ideologies in the world, with some exceptions.
However the ideology is politically totalitarian, and intolerant of dissent against the party. Political freedoms are minimal, and opposition to the party is prohibited and eliminated by state security forces. Furthermore, religion is branded an impediment and enemy of the progress of humanity, and is prohibited fully. The religious are prohibited from publicly being religious, and if they are found out to be, they are sent to re-education facilities to be turned into good Progressive Totalitarians.
Economic Theory
Progressive Totalitarianism supports a social corporatist mixed economy. The majority of the economy is under regulated private ownership and control (with partial state control implemented when necessary for the nation), however certain key sectors of the economy are under state ownership and control. For example, the national resources of the nation are viewed as belonging to the people of the nation, while all land is subject to a land-value tax. Utilities (electricity, gas, and water) are also state-owned, and so is telecommunications infrastructure (phone and internet lines, satellites, TV towers, etc). A national post and public transport service is also available amongst the other usual state services. The government should also have their own public consumer bank and insurance conglomerate, to provide a valuable service to the people and keep prices low. All education is state controlled and is universally and freely available, in fact it is compulsory to attend a public school until 18 years of age. Healthcare is also free and universally available, though for those with health insurance private options exist for slightly better care.
Progressive Totalitarianism supports a universal welfare state, wealth redistribution and a job guarantee system in order to eliminate poverty and raise the standard of living. Corporations and high-income individuals (millionaires and over) are taxed highly, in order to support the welfare state and maintain the national high standard of living of all citizens. Businesses generally have ease doing business and making profits, in order to fund the governments social policies. All workers are members of their specific trade union in the National Trade Organisation, the National Trade Organisation is a government/party organisation which deliberates between the workers and the employers to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. It makes sure the workers are happy and taken care of, but also ensures that the economy is kept running smoothly.
