Autocracy

Autocracy is a form of government where a single person holds all the power.^[1][2] That person (called an autocrat) can do anything they want legally or politically.^[2] They make all decisions, and there is no separation of powers. They may use propaganda, censorship, and/or violence to control people.^[3]

Two types of autocracy exist today: absolute monarchies and dictatorships.^[4] According to one report, 71% of the world's 2024 population lives in an autocracy.^[5]

In modern times, most autocrats have gained power as part of a larger nationalist, communist, or fascist movement. Once in power, they eliminate all other kinds of authority in the country, like judges, the legislature, and political parties. All totalitarian regimes are autocracies.^[6]

Having an autocratic government does not mean the country is governed well or governed poorly. It is just a description on how it is set up.

1. ↑ Masha Gessen (November 10, 2016). "Autocracy: Rules for Survival". The New York Review of Books. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Definition of AUTOCRACY". Merriam Webster Dictionary. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
3. ↑ Guriev, Sergei; Treisman, Daniel (2020-06-01). "A theory of informational autocracy". Journal of Public Economics. 186: 104158. doi:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104158. ISSN 0047-2727.
4. ↑ "Autocracy". National Geographic. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
5. ↑ Civil Liberties Union for Europe (2024-08-27). "What is Autocracy: Definition, Examples, How to Defeat it | LibertiesEU". Liberties.eu. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
6. ↑ "Totalitarianism". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2024-10-31.