What are the methods that Totalitarian rulers use to maintain control?

Fear and Manipulation Tactics

Explanation:

In a totalitarian country, rulers maintain control by manipulating it's people and using fear tactics against them

Ways they use fear and terror is by implanting harsh punishments and persecuting those who even dare to go against the government which causes many to silence their opinion and making them afraid to speak out because they dont want any harm to go to them or their families. A great example of this is like how North Korea attacks not only the person who was caught talking bad about their government but they attack their entire family as well.

Ways they use manipulation is by brainwashing their citizens by spreading widespread misinformation about how great their country is compared to the others. They use propaganda and false knowledge of history to distribute their lies to increase nationalism in their country. In simple terms, think of this as a puppet and a puppeteer. The puppet symbolizes citizens of a totalitarian governments and the puppeteer being the ruler. The puppeteer has full control over the puppet and can manipulate it do whatever the puppeteer wants.

These are the tactics that totalitarian rulers use to lead their country.