Censorship as an ideological defense mechanism in Democracy and Totalitarianism

Censorship is one of the most important defense mechanisms of a State’s ideology or political system. By controlling the information sources, auditors are able to ensure the optimal functioning of the system they defend. Depending on the type of society it originates from, censorship may take various forms, from a minimal role in some cases to a leading role in others. Some forms of censorship existed and still exist regardless of the ideological nature of the regime we are putting into question. This is especially the case for oppressive regimes where censorship and propaganda are vital tools in maintaining political power and legitimacy. While in democratic societies State-based censorship is much rarer, similar measures are more discrete, diverse and may come from other institutions such as social, religious, economic or cultural establishments.