While distinguishing two different forms of mass dictatorsh, Griffin explains that totalitarianism tries to reshape and change society and create an entirely new order. Individualism and freedom of speech are repressed in order to introduce a new ideology and impose a uniform new world view.
Authoritarianism however does not work towards changing all parts of society in line with a new strict ideology. Instead it focuses on an individual retaining as much authority over the people as possible, rejecting political plurality and personal freedom while trying to legitimize itself.
The author also distinguishes the relationships of authoritarian and totalitarian dictatorships to modernity. While the authoritarian dictatorship stands for a „reactionary, antirevolutionary and essentially repressive form of conservatism“, it tries to contain modernization. Totalitarian regimes however try to modernize in order to construct a new modern reality, with the goal to remake history