In a recent opinion piece published by American Thinker, author Sheldon Bart argues that the United States is facing a “clear and present danger” from a new strain of totalitarianismâone that has allegedly infiltrated academia, K-12 schools, and even elected offices. His proposed remedy: a mandatory high school and college course on recognizing totalitarian ideologies, or “Totalitarian Ideologies 101.”
Bart contends that while Americans were distracted, a “toxic ideology” drifted from certain European academic circles into faculty lounges and then into classrooms, eventually producing candidates who have won municipal, state, and even congressional seats. He draws a direct line from communism to what he calls the “woke” movement, arguing that the goal remains the same: totalitarian control, with race and gender replacing class as the central axis of oppression.
A New Face for an Old Scourge
Bart likens today’s left-wing activists to figures like Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin, pointing to the Democratic Socialists of America and supporters of New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani as modern equivalents. He argues that to protect the republic, citizens must be able to recognize totalitarianism in its current formâhence his proposed course.
The author offers a “teaching module” grounded in observations about human nature. He asserts that humans are capable of both great benevolence and terrible cruelty, that people can be made to believe almost anything, and that beliefs can control behaviorâsometimes with destructive consequences. To illustrate, he cites the phenomenon of individuals who, believing their gender identity does not align with their body, may undergo irreversible bodily modifications.
How Totalitarian Ideologies Operate
Bart’s module outlines several core features of totalitarian ideologies. They divide the world into two factions: a malevolent oppressor group and an innocent victim group. All negative human traits are attributed to the oppressors, while victims are seen as fundamentally noble. Critically, the ideology is structured so that any questioning of its premises automatically places the questioner in the oppressor camp, making the belief system effectively irrefutable.
Drawing on George Orwell, Bart notes that such ideologies dress themselves in intellectual language that gives “the appearance of solidity to pure wind,” while also carrying genuine emotional appeal because they address real grievances and promise utopia. The path to that utopia, he warns, always involves eradicating the designated oppressorsâa process that inevitably concentrates power and leads to tyranny.
He argues that the attempt to eliminate supposed oppressors often results in “more cruelty and brutality” against innocent people than before, and that such systems redirect enormous resources into propaganda and indoctrination. He stresses that the goal of creating a “new human being” purified of negative traits is doomed because human nature cannot be altered.
What Would the Course Look Like?
Bart suggests that the U.S. Department of Education could design a curriculum and require it in schools, possibly by threatening to withhold federal funding from colleges and districts that refuse to participate. He even proposes recruiting volunteers to teach the course, noting that many schools of education may not be up to the task.
The op-ed concludes with a call to action: “Now more than ever, the ability to speak our minds is crucial to the republic we cherish.”
While Bart’s proposal is unlikely to gain traction in public school curricula, it reflects a growing concern among some conservatives about the influence of progressive ideologies in education and politics. The piece is part of a broader debate over how to address political polarization and what role schools should play in shaping future citizens.
Source: www.americanthinker.com â https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/08/totalitarian-ideologies-101/