Authoritarianism defined
If you have been keeping up with Dinner Topics and all of the world wide protests in the past couple months, you may have noticed that in the middle of reports from Egypt, Bahrain, and Libya, the word “authoritarianism” has been used often. While it’s fairly easy to figure out the meaning from the context (“I’m bigger and I was here first so we’re going to do what I say”), an official definition or two will help you in the coming months, because frustration by the people doesn’t figure to be ending anytime soon.
The Dictionary.com definition of authoritarian:
- favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom
- of or pertaining to a governmental or political system, principle, or practice in which individual freedom is held as completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state, centered either in one person or a small group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people.
- exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of another or of others1
Authoritarianism as described by Wikipedia:
“Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is opposed to individualism and democracy. Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers.“2
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