Dictatorship

Definition

A dictatorship is a form of government where a single individual or a small group holds absolute power, often without the consent or election by the populace. This regime typically maintains power through control of the military and suppression of opposition.

Related terms

Authoritarianism: A political system that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or a small elite that is not constitutionally responsible to the public.

Totalitarianism: An extreme form of authoritarian government where the state seeks to control every aspect of public and private life.

Democracy: A form of government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or through freely elected representatives