ABSTRACT
In the Western world, 'totalitarianism' is by far the most pervasive and politically important interpretation of the USSR and other states modelled on her. It is considered to be a meta-theory, that is, a set of orientating statements to society. Totalitarianism is seen by some commentators to be a form of political rule appropriate only to an advanced and technological society. Political control in a pretechnocratic society is much more diffuse than it needs to be in an advanced society. The development of large-scale economic and political units requires integrating institutions unknown in pretechnocratic societies. In non-industrial societies the social structure is segmented and the units are homologous. The most notable opponent of the industrial society thesis is John Goldthorpe who in a celebrated article argued that social stratification and economic order are subject to 'political regulation' and that totalitarianism and industrialism may coexist.
