Autokratyczny

Autokratyczny is a Polish adjective used to describe things related to autocracy or to a style of rule dominated by a single person or a small group. In political science, autocracy is a form of government in which supreme authority is concentrated in one ruler or in a narrow elite, with limited formal constraints from institutions such as legislatures or courts. The term autokratyczny can apply to institutions, policies, or leaders that exhibit this centralization of power, unilateral decision-making, and subdued pluralism of opinions.

Etymology: the word derives from Greek autokratos, from autos "self" and kratos "power." In Polish usage, autokratyczny describes governance or leadership characterized by centralized control, little or no consultation, and top-down directions.

In practice, autokratyczny rule often features rapid decision-making and a clear chain of command, but may also entail weaknesses such as reduced accountability, suppression of dissent, and limited political competition. The term is used descriptively in historical analysis and, in contemporary discourse, to label regimes or organizations that concentrate authority and minimize checks and balances.

It can be contrasted with demokracyjny or demokratyczny, which emphasize participation, checks and balances, and accountability through elections or deliberative processes. Autokratyczny leadership can occur in state institutions, military administrations, or corporate contexts where a single leader or a small circle holds decisive authority. The neutrality of the term depends on context; it is frequently used analytically by scholars as well as polemically by critics of centralized power.