ABSTRACT
In Western democracy, with its appreciation for positive law and for negotiable authority, political bodies are invested with that highest authority in society. There are cultural differences between various societies with respect to the role and position of politics. The belief that contemporary society or civilization and its political institutions represent the best in all of history rests upon a teleological, linear worldview wherein society and polity develop from primitive to ever higher stages. It is important to distinguish between political totalitarianism, which refers to a dictatorship under one ruler or party, and societal totalitarianism, which refers to the dominance of political-social-economic elite in society. In the United States in the nineteenth century, political parties were the only truly national organizations. They did not only play a role in the election process, but also had significant influence in the appointment of administrative officials, and they were important in local communities as providers of jobs.
