autocracy

Autocracy is a form of government in which supreme authority is concentrated in a single individual. The autocrat holds final decision-making power, and political pluralism and legal constraints are limited or absent. Governors, legislatures, and courts may exist, but their authority is subordinate to that ruler.

Autocratic rule typically relies on centralized bureaucratic control, intimidation, censorship, and control over security forces. Opposition is restricted or banned, elections (if held) are non-competitive, and media is often state-controlled. Succession may be hereditary, personalist, or determined by coercion rather than electoral process, contributing to instability in some cases.

Autocracy takes several forms, including absolute monarchies and personalist or military dictatorships. It is distinct from oligarchy, where power rests with a few people, and from totalitarianism, which seeks to mobilize society behind an ideology. Some regimes display limited constitutional forms but retain concentrated power in practice.

Critics argue that autocracy frequently violates civil and political rights and stifles accountability, innovation, and economic efficiency. Supporters may claim efficiency and political stability, though such benefits depend on the ruler’s incentives and capacity to maintain control.

In contemporary discourse, autocracy is contrasted with democracy and pluralism. International assessments of autocratic governance examine electoral competition, civil liberties, rule of law, and institutional checks, with ratings and classifications varying across organizations.