autoritarism

Authoritarianism is a form of governance in which political power is concentrated in a leader or a small elite who exercise authority without durable legal constraints or broad political pluralism. Elections and legislatures may exist, but opposition is often restricted, civil liberties are limited, and the state relies on security forces and censorship to maintain control. Legitimacy is typically claimed on grounds of stability, security, or efficiency rather than broad consent or rule of law.

Key features include centralized decision-making, a limited or controlled party system, a weak or subordinate judiciary, and state-controlled media. The regime often uses surveillance, intimidation, patronage, and coercion to suppress dissent and deter organization outside official channels.

Forms vary: personalist dictatorships centered on a single ruler; single-party regimes where one party dominates politics; and military or technocratic regimes. Some regimes combine elements in hybrid forms, with elections that are uneven or manipulated and legal frameworks that curb opposition.

Authoritarianism is distinguished in political science from liberal democracy and totalitarianism, though transitions between regimes occur. Comparative measurements use indicators of political rights, civil liberties, and the independence of institutions, noting that classifications can shift with political change. Debates address what counts as accountability, the role of ideology, and the relative stability or fragility of these regimes.