Defining Authoritarianism

Authoritarianism is characterized as a political system where one person, a small group, or a single political party rules without checks and balances. In such systems, independent courts, media, and legitimate opposition are absent, allowing leadership to operate under 'rule by law', where the law is defined by the rulers. Individuals lack guaranteed rights, such as freedom of speech, and have no legitimate means to contest power or effect governmental change. The discussion emphasizes that while various forms of autocracies exist, they share common traits that restrict citizens' rights and limit their ability to challenge authority.