Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Autocracies are political systems where power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or a small group of individuals. These rulers have absolute authority and often suppress dissent and opposition.
A form of autocracy where leaders exercise strong control over society, limiting individual freedoms and suppressing political opposition.
Dictatorship: Another type of autocracy characterized by a single leader who holds absolute power and often maintains control through force or coercion.
Monarchy: A system of government where power is inherited within a ruling family, with one person (the monarch) serving as the head of state.