Despotism
Definition
Despotism refers to a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group.
Related terms
Tyranny: Cruel and oppressive government or rule where power is in the hands of an individual who has seized control unlawfully.
Monarchy: A form of government with a monarch at the head (king, queen, emperor), often hereditary.
Totalitarianism: A political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
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