Gleichschaltung
Totalitarian cultural alignment
Gleichschaltung is a German term meaning "coordination" or "bringing into line," used historically for the Nazi process of consolidating power by forcing all institutions—political parties, unions, media, churches—into alignment with state ideology.
The word now applies more broadly to any systematic elimination of opposition or enforced conformity: The new management's gleichschaltung of the department left no room for dissent.
Aligning timing across systems
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- centralizationUnifying control in one place
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
unification · regimentation · streamlining · integration · harmonization · leveling
Adhering to requirements
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- submissionYielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- uniformityState of being identical
homogeneity · assimilation · adherence · sameness · ideological conformity · groupthink
Unchecked single-ruler government
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- fascismUltranationalist dictatorial political system
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- autocracyRule by one
despotism · one-party state · Nazi regime · Third Reich · state control · political repression · absolute power · centralized authority
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crackdownSudden strict enforcement
prohibition · stifling · oppression · intimidation · book burning · banning · purge
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- GoebbelsThird Reich propaganda minister
- political educationLearning about government systems
synchronization
Aligning timing across systems
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- centralizationUnifying control in one place
- standardizationImplementing uniform technical specifications
consolidation · unification · regimentation · streamlining · integration · harmonization · leveling
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- obedienceCompliance with authority
- submissionYielding to another's will
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
uniformity · homogeneity · assimilation · adherence · sameness · ideological conformity · groupthink
dictatorship
Unchecked single-ruler government
- authoritarianismConcentrated, unchecked governmental power
- fascismUltranationalist dictatorial political system
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
autocracy · despotism · one-party state · Nazi regime · Third Reich · state control · political repression · absolute power · centralized authority · single-party rule
repression
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- silencingStopping noise or dissent
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
crackdown · prohibition · stifling · oppression · intimidation · book burning · banning · purge
indoctrination
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- GoebbelsThird Reich propaganda minister
- Nazi GermanyAdolf Hitler, Hitler, Nazi, Nazis, Nazi Party
- German LawRichter, constitutional court, constitutional law, federal law, basic law
Gleichschaltungpluralism
Coexistence of differing views
federalism · decentralization · democratization · liberalization · separation of powers
Gleichschaltungdiversity
State of varied elements
heterogeneity · individualism · nonconformity · dissent · multiculturalism
Gleichschaltungself-governance
Independent management of affairs
academic freedom · press freedom · free association · independence · autonomy