autoritario

Autoritario is an adjective (and, less commonly, a noun) used in Spanish, Italian, and related political discourse to describe systems, regimes, or individuals that concentrate power in a central authority and limit political pluralism. The term derives from authority and from Latin auctoritas, and is often paired with other political descriptors such as liberal and democratic to indicate the degree of political openness.

In political science, an autoritario regime centers power in a single leader or a small ruling elite and confines political competition, often restricting civil liberties, controlling or censoring the media, and subordinating the judiciary to political goals. Elections, if held, are typically non-competitive, and opposition movements face repression. Such regimes may tolerate limited social or economic life outside politics, but political pluralism is constrained. Authoritarianism is distinct from totalitarianism, which seeks comprehensive control of both the public and private spheres; authoritarian systems generally permit some private life and limited economic activity while maintaining centralized political authority.

The term is also used descriptively to characterize organizational or interpersonal leadership that emphasizes obedience, hierarchy, and centralized decision-making over consultation and consent. In scholarly and policy discussions, the term is contrasted with liberal democracies and with more expansive totalitarian or hybrid regimes, measuring aspects such as civil liberties, political rights, and institutional checks and balances.

See also: authoritarianism, autocrat, dictatorship, totalitarianism, despotism.