the.com/authoritarianism
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means A system where power is concentrated in a ruler or small group who demand obedience and allow little or no political freedom or dissent.
from Traces back through French 'autoritaire' to Latin 'auctoritas' (authority, influence, legitimacy), itself from 'auctor' — an originator or founder, related to 'augere,' meaning to increase or make grow. The '-ism' was bolted on in the 20th century to name it as an ideology rather than just a trait, as political scientists sorted regimes into rival boxes. So the root sense is oddly generative — 'one who makes things grow' — twisted over centuries into 'one who insists you grow only as permitted.'
- vs totalitarianism
- Wants obedience, not your soul or beliefs
- favorite tool
- Elections it already knows it won
- classic tell
- Opposition exists, oddly always loses
- famous paradox
- Often popular, at least at first