Authoritarianism facts for kids

An authoritarian government is a type of government where a small group or a single leader has a lot of power. They make most of the decisions for the country. In this system, the government usually doesn't allow people to have many different ideas or political parties. It's like they want everyone to follow one main way of thinking.

Official Photo of Augusto Pinochet, created about 1974. Pinochet led Chile in an authoritarian manner, while he was in power (1974-1990)

What is Authoritarianism?

Authoritarianism is a way of governing where the power is held by a small group of people or even just one person. This central government has a lot of control over the country. They often don't like the idea of pluralism, which means having many different groups, ideas, and political parties. Instead, they prefer a single, strong way of doing things.

How is it Different?

Authoritarianism is often seen as being in the middle of two other types of government:

• Democracy: In a democracy, citizens have a lot of power. They vote for their leaders and have many freedoms, like speaking their minds or joining different groups.
• Totalitarianism: This is an even stricter form of government than authoritarianism. In a totalitarian state, the government tries to control almost every part of people's lives, including their thoughts and beliefs. They use a lot of force and propaganda to make sure everyone follows their rules.

So, authoritarianism is stricter than a democracy but usually not as controlling as totalitarianism. Sometimes, a monarchy (a country ruled by a king or queen) can also be authoritarian if the ruler has all the power and doesn't allow much freedom.

Where Can We See Authoritarian Governments?

As of 2020, some countries that are considered to have authoritarian governments include:

• The People's Republic of China
• Angola
• The Republic of the Congo
• Laos
• Nicaragua
• North Korea

Several countries in the Persian Gulf region also fit this description, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar. Singapore is another country in Asia that has an authoritarian government. These governments often focus on stability and economic growth, but they limit political freedoms and public participation.

See also

In Spanish: Autoritarismo para niños