The Role Of Adolf Hitler's Abuse Of Power In North Korea

The abuse of power produces oppression around the world in several significant ways. When abuse of power plays a major role in the world, entire nations and countries may become oppressed. An excellent example of this is the current situation in North Korea, especially involving their now-dead leader Kim Jong Il. The citizens of North Korea have been brainwashed and derived any means of access to the outside world “Kim Jong Il oversaw the Propaganda and Agitation department, the government agency responsible for media control and censorship.” (Bio.com). Resulting from Kim Jong Il’s abuse of power, an entire country has been oppressed and denied some basic rights, most of them without even knowing it. As well as this, entire races and ethnicities
can be oppressed by an individual’s or a group’s abuse of power. Easily the most recognizable instance of this in history regards Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.
As Adolf Hitler used his political strength and power in the most abusive ways, “These measures against the Jews of Germany served as a prelude to the Holocaust of World War II, when the Nazis embarked on a campaign to exterminate the Jews of Europe.” (Meier). Hitler’s anti-Jew policy was only taken into effect due to the fact that he used his political strategies in the most corrupt ways. In a way on a more minor scale, individuals can be oppressed in smaller ways, such as in a workplace or community. In a pyramid of power, “People tended to accept their position in the pyramid partly because they were forced to…” (Key Theme Three…). The factor of fear leaves individuals oppressed in society due to the presence of someone in a higher place of power. Oppression is a major problem, and it cannot slow down until the abuse of power does as
well. In seperate ways, power abuse causes intense friction between nations, often but not always resulting in violence.
Friction between nations can have several meanings, but the most significant is the presence of international wars. The most famous war in the world occurred in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. It all started with Adolf Hitler’s anti-minority views and the later annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938 (Meier). The fact that Adolf Hitler was in a very prominent position of power and had the intention of abusing it directly caused the deadliest war in history. As well as this, conflict can stem internally within a country or state. Though the phrase “...everyone from the top of the pyramid to the bottom knew who had more power and who had less, who commanded and who obeyed.” (Key Theme Three…) is true in most scenarios, desire for a higher position of power or the removal of a powerful person, likely if they abuse their power, is very well able to happen. Dispute, violence, and even civil war can occur if the abuse of power leads to individuals or groups trying to gain a higher position of power. A different type of conflict between nations can occur resulting from power abuse, and this is isolation. In extreme cases, leaders and dictators who abuse their power can separate their society from the rest of the world. This instance can be seen with North Korea, where “elected” dictator Kim Jong Il had policies which censored the entire world from North
Korea, and the world could not get very much information from inside the country. In the 1990s, North Korea suffered devastating and deadly economic episodes (Bio.com), and the rest of the world could do little about it because Kim Jong Il’s power creating isolation. Whether it’s within a country or between nations, the abuse of power creates dispute and conflict problems all around the world. Strong injustice between social classes is another major result of power abuse. This can result in many complications in society, especially involving corrupt individuals. Back to the topic of Hitler’s devastating and traumatic effects on all of Europe, many lives could have been saved if he had not been placed in a position of great power. His incredible strength politically was able to sway the minds of millions of people despite his horrible intentions (Meier). Once he was in a position of power, he used unjust methods to make sure he would not be able to leave, such as eliminating other political parties. This created an imbalance in social classes at the time, giving one man way too much power. Also, individuals end up in positions with little or no power. Relating back to oppression, “The state involved a hierarchy of power in which everyone knew his and her place.” (Key Theme Three…). People towards the bottom of the power “pyramid” have little say in what occurs and can do very little about it, leaving a large group of people feeling powerless (does not apply to all societies). As well as this, individuals or groups can have extremely unjust methods of ascending to power in the first place. Seen when Kim Jong Il made his rise to power. “Kim Il Sung began preparing his son to lead North Korea in the early 1970s”