Final answer:
Truman asserted that societies distressed by poverty and without hope for a better life are prone to totalitarian regimes. His administration's solution was to promote democracy and capitalism globally, cementing the US role in the fight against the spread of Communism, characteristic of the Cold War era.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harry Truman believed that a society becomes vulnerable to totalitarian regimes when it loses hope for a better life, and is stricken by poverty and strife. He emphasized that maintaining hope and supporting free societies in their struggle against totalitarianism was crucial for peace and the world order. This view was resonant during the post-WWII era when the United States was concerned about the spread of Communism and the Truman administration's policy centered around containment, seeking to prevent the spread of Communism beyond the Iron Curtain.
Truman's approach to political affairs was characterized by attempts to promote capitalism and democracy globally. His administration's efforts mirrored the zeitgeist of the Cold War period, where the ideological battle between the superpowers extended into a global contest for influence, underpinned by the development of powerful militaries. It is important to note that traits such as the eradication of individual identity in favor of the state and the systematic use of violence and terror are markers of totalitarian systems as articulated by Hannah Arendt. Such fear tactics and overreach threatens freedoms and can lead to public support of stringent anti-Communist measures, as seen during Truman's presidency.