Final answer:
Post-WWI turmoil and economic instability led to a rise in totalitarianism as nations sought leaders who promised stability and national revitalization, resulting in the abandonment of democracy in favor of authoritarian and fascist regimes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some nations embraced totalitarianism after World War I due to the devastation and socio-economic turmoil that the war had caused. Post-war dislocations and the Great Depression led to massive disillusionment with democratic and liberal ideals, perceived as being ineffective in addressing national crises. Countries sought authoritative leaders who promised to restore order, provide stability, and revive national pride. Adolf Hitler in Germany and other fascist leaders in Europe presented solutions that involved centralizing power, fostering extreme nationalism, and pursuing aggressive expansionist policies.
Hannah Arendt described totalitarianism as a form of government that seeks total control over every aspect of life, eradicating individual identities in favor of a collective identity centered around the state.
As a result, nations like Italy, Spain, Germany, and Japan abandoned democratic norms in favor of fascist and totalitarian ideologies to overcome economic hardships, perceived national humiliation, and the desire for territorial expansion.