Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An authoritarian system is a form of government characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms. Individual freedoms are subordinate to the state and there is little or no political pluralism.
A political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible.
The fundamental rights guaranteed to individuals by law, such as freedom of speech and religion, which are protected from infringement by the government.
Political Pluralism: A condition or system in which multiple political parties or groups can compete for power, reflecting a diversity of opinions within a society