These systems of non-representative governments are led by a few or even by a single individual.  Judicial rights and recourse are nonexistent.  Extreme vigilance, power and fear over people have been further facilitated by some of the technological and scientific advances of the twentieth century.  By definition, totalitarianism does not restrict its oppression to society's public expressions such as journalistic freedom or political dissent.  Brutally harsh controls are also exerted over all traditionally more personal elements within a society, including any and all aspects of human relations such as family, friends, education, religion, work, sexuality, and leisure time as well as most other forms of personal freewill or artistic expression.

Among many throughout the world, two of the more infamous totalitarian governments of our more recent past are Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia. Totalitarianism remains current in Mainland China and in Fidel Castro's Cuba.  We should remain conscious and resolute, in America and abroad, in confronting all such repression within the complexities of modern and future civilized societies.

In the name of "national security" Castro and his cohorts first dismantled Cuba's judicial system and constitutional protections.  Against all his original promises and pronouncements, Cuba's venerated Constitution of 1940 remains suspended by Fidel Castro for over 43 years thus creating and perpetuating a political climate and a rational for committing innumerable documented and undocumented atrocities on the Cuban people.  Throughout his reign, rampant totalitarian authority along with torture and execution  continue to be commonplace methods of maintaining a status-quo.   Despite any longevity, no government must ever be considered licit if it  assumes power through deceit or maintains power through judicially unrestrained force.

Link: Cuban:   " Fusilados"

From 1900 to 1987, governments murdered 170 million people, well over four times the number of battle-deaths during that same period. Tragically, such inhumanity continues as the dangerous antithesis to democracies, republics and, individual human rights. 
Often it is rationalized with a dialectic for "national security" a "new society", "the new man", "a better world".  Not only do the ends not justify the means but the ends ARE the means.   Justice with Order & Order with Justice.

  " They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security."  Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

   " I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the rights of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in   power than by violent and sudden usurpations."   James Madison, fourth US president (1751-1836)

  " There is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under the cover of law, and with the color of justice..."  US v. Jannottie (1982)