What Is the Meaning of Autocracy?
Definition Autocracy is a form of government in which only one person governs. The people do not have representation in the government and the primarily political leader has complete authority to make all decisions for the country. Misconceptions Autocracy is not the same as totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is a kind of government in which an entire regime attempts to dictate what the members of society must do. For example, Germany acted as a totalitarian government in World War II, marketing and enforcing Nazi ideologies. By contrast, an autocratic, or authoritarian, government has only one person who attempts to dictate; this autocrat is not dependent on any one regime in order to rule or sustain power. Autocratic Dissolution Because it is logistically so difficult for an autocrat to handle all aspects of government, most “autocratic” governments eventually dissolve into oligarchies. Oligarchies are governments in which just a few people rule. Oligarchies still do not guarantee that