Opposition in democracies and single-party states

The right to oppose is not only part of any definition of political freedom but it is necessary for a democracy to be healthy. For without opposition any government would almost inevitably become corrupt, and if it managed not to, it would surely become complacent.

So, opposition is good, but how do you oppose? In a democracy this is pretty straight forward. Opposition can express itself in every component of the political system as well as in the wider reaches of society. A government can be opposed by sections of its own party and will certainly face opposition from rival parties. Government legislation is freely debated in parliament and might be defeated or else amendments made. It may even be opposed in the courts if it has been seen to do something unconstitutional.

Opposition can be voiced in the media where, even though ownership of newspapers is an issue, opposition views are given space, and there is no formal censorship other than for matters of state security. Opposition can be voiced in a number of other ways too: trade unions, pressure groups and professional organisations. And ultimately, people can go out on the streets to protest.

What then in single-party states? What then, in Hitler’s Nazi Germany? Opposition is systematically closed down in every component of the political system as well as in the wider reaches of society. The Night of the Long Knives ended any opposition in Hitler’s own Nazi party. Of course Germany became a one-party state and parliament nothing more than a rubber stamp and a forum for Hitler’s speeches. On Hindenburg’s death the offices of president and chancellor were combined and federal government was replaced by Nazi governors. The courts were also Nazified.

The media was all-but taken over and was overseen by the heavy hand of Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment (the irony of that last word in its title). Free trade unionism was ended, replaced by a Nazi-controlled trade union that was worse than useless, and all other organisations, professional or otherwise, were Nazified. Only a handful of public protests, small and very brave, took place. Even the Churches had to operate with tremendous care and even then, were subjected to provocation.

Opposition was all-but silenced.