Final answer:
Totalitarian states often burn out quickly due to extreme oppression, leading to public dissent and potential rebellion, as well as governance issues stemming from power concentration and potential instability caused by the resource curse.
Step-by-step explanation:
One speculation as to why totalitarian states burn out so quickly is related to extreme oppression. Totalitarian regimes attempt to control nearly all aspects of public and private life, leading to a society where citizens may be forced to conform to state mandates and demonstrate loyalty through public actions such as marches and demonstrations. This level of oppression often results in a population that is dissatisfied and potentially rebellious, contributing to the instability of the regime. Additionally, as seen in the historical context of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, the concentration of power and reluctance to democratize leads to governance issues and a loss of public support. Moreover, the resource curse indicates that countries with abundant resources may be prone to authoritarian rule, potentially destabilizing the regime due to corruption and conflict over resource control.