An autocracy is a form of government A form of government, or form of state governance, refers to the set of political institutions by which a government of a state is organized in order to exert its powers over a body politic. Synonyms include "regime type" and "system of government". This definition holds even if the government is unsuccessful in exerting its in which the political power Political power is a type of power held by a group in a society which allows administration of some or all of public resources, including labour, and wealth. There are many ways to obtain possession of such power. At the nation-state level political legitimacy for political power is held by the representatives of national sovereignty. Political is held by a self-appointed ruler. The term autocrat is derived from the word autokratōr (αὐτοκράτωρ, lit. "self-ruler", or "one who rules by himself"). Compare with oligarchy An oligarchy (oligocracy) is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society distinguished by royal, wealth, intellectual, family, military, or religious hegemony. The word oligarchy is from the Greek words for "few" (ὀλίγος olígos) and "rule" (ἀρχή arkhē). Such states ("rule by the few") and democracy Democracy is a political government either carried out directly by the people or by means of elected representatives of the people (Representative democracy). The term is derived from the Greek: δημοκρατία - (dēmokratía) "the power to the people", which was coined from δῆμος (dêmos) "people" and κράτος ( ("rule by the people").
Today the term autocrat is usually understood as being synonymous with despot Despotism is a form of government by a single authority, either an individual , or tightly knit group, which rules with absolute political power, tyrant The word derives from Latin tyrannus, meaning "illegitimate ruler", and this in turn from the Greek τύραννος, týrannos, meaning "sovereign, master", although the latter was not pejorative and applicable to both good and bad leaders alike and dictator A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power (sometimes but not always with military control) but, without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship. The word originated as the title of a magistrate in ancient Rome, although each of these terms originally had a separate and distinct meaning.
Autocracy is not synonymous with totalitarianism Totalitarianism is a political system where the state, usually under the control of a single political organization, faction, or class domination, recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. Totalitarianism is generally characterised by the coincidence of authoritarianism, as the latter concept was forged in 1923 to distinguish modern regimes from traditional dictatorships A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator, without hereditary ascension. It has three possible meanings:. Nor is it synonymous with military dictatorship A military dictatorship is a form of government where in the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military. Like any dictatorship, a military dictatorship may be official or unofficial, and as a result may not actually qualify as stratocratic. Mixed forms also, as these often take the form of "collective presidencies" such as the South American juntas A military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors. Sometimes it becomes a military dictatorship, though the terms are not synonymous. However, an autocracy may be totalitarian or be a military dictatorship.
The term monarchy A 'Monarchy' is a form of government in which supreme power is absolutely or nominally lodged with an individual, who is the head of state, often for life or until abdication, and "is wholly set apart from all other members of the state." The person who heads a monarchy is called a monarch. It was a common form of government in the world also differs in that it emphasizes the hereditary characteristic, though some Slavic monarchs, specifically Russian Emperors Tsar or czar (Bulgarian цар, Russian: царь , Ukrainian: цар, Croatian: car in Serbian: цар, in scientific transliteration respectively car' and car), occasionally spelled csar or Tzar in English, is a Slavic term with Bulgarian origins used to designate certain monarchs. The first ruler to adopt the title tsar was Simeon I of Bulgaria traditionally included the title "autocrat" as part of their official styles. This usage originated in the Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, was the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople, and ruled by Emperors. It was called the Roman Empire, and also as Romania , by its inhabitants and its neighbours. As the distinction between "Roman Empire" and "Byzantine Empire" is purely a, where the term autokratōr was traditionally employed in Greek to translate the Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. With the Roman conquest, Latin was spread to countries around the Mediterranean, including a large part of Europe. Romance languages, such as Catalan, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish, are descended from Latin, while many others, especially European imperator The Latin word Imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the period of the Roman Republic. It later went on to become a part of the titulature of the Roman Emperors as part of their cognomen. The English word emperor derives from the Latin word "imperator", via its French descendent empereur. There is no, and was used along with Basileus Basileus (Greek Βασιλεύς ( Byzantine and Modern Greek pronunciation , plural Βασιλεῖς, basileis) is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by Byzantine emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns to mean "emperor". This use remains current in the modern Greek Modern Greek refers to the varieties of Greek spoken in the modern era. The beginning of the "modern" period of the language is often symbolically assigned to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, even though that date marks no clear linguistic boundary and many characteristic modern features of the language had been present language, where the term is used for any emperor (e.g. the Emperor of Japan), regardless of the actual power of the monarch. Historically, many monarchs ruled autocratically Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, political power over the sovereign state and its subject peoples. In an absolute monarchy, the transmission of power is two-fold, hereditary and marital; as absolute governor, the monarch’s but eventually their power was diminished and dissolved with the introduction of constitutions A constitution is a set of rules for government—often codified as a written document—that establishes principles of an autonomous political entity. In the case of countries, this term refers specifically to a national constitution defining the fundamental political principles, and establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties, of a giving the people the power to make decisions for themselves through elected bodies of government A government is the body within a community, political entity or organization which has the authority to make and enforce rules, laws, and regulations.[citation needed].
The autocrat needs some kind of power structure to rule. Very few rulers were in the position to rule with only their personal charisma and skills, however great these may be, without the help of others. Most historical autocrats depended on their nobles, the military, the priesthood or others, who could turn against the ruler and depose or murder them. As such, it can be difficult to draw a clear line between historical autocracies and oligarchies.
See also
- De facto De facto is a Latin expression that means "by [the] fact". In law, it is meant to mean "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but without being officially established". It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or technique (such rule, government
- Roman Empire The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean. The term is used to describe the Roman state during and after the time of the first emperor, Augustus
- Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire, was the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople, and ruled by Emperors. It was called the Roman Empire, and also as Romania , by its inhabitants and its neighbours. As the distinction between "Roman Empire" and "Byzantine Empire" is purely a
- Theocracy Theocracy is a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler, or in a higher sense, a form of government in which a state is governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. In Common Greek, “theocracy” means a rule [kra′tos] by God [the.os′]. For
- Totalitarianism Totalitarianism is a political system where the state, usually under the control of a single political organization, faction, or class domination, recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. Totalitarianism is generally characterised by the coincidence of authoritarianism
- Authoritarianism Authoritarianism describes a form of government characterized by an emphasis on the authority of state in a republic or union. It is a political system controlled by typically non-elected rulers who usually permit some degree of individual freedom
- Tsarist autocracy Tsarist autocracy refers to a form of absolute monarchy specific to Grand Duchy of Muscovy and Tsardom of Russia/Russian Empire.[a] This system has also been described as imperial autocracy, Russian autocracy, Muscovite autocracy, tsarist absolutism, imperial absolutism, Russian absolutism, Muscovite absolutism, Russian despotism,[b] Muscovite
Categories: Forms of government | Greek loanwords
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The Daily Deal
... failed, insuring that Russia remained sunk in oppressive autocracy essentially until Lenin showed up at the Finland Station in 1917. ...
ddominic
2009-03-31 18:42:00
However, my conversation reinforces my belief in the importance democracy and the dysfunction of . Autocracy. it robs people of the truth that comes from independent reasoning conscious minds meeting with other minds souls with other . ...
Q. Are the rights and will of minorites are better protected in a reprensentative democracy, autocracy,or oligarc
Asked by sharmeta m - Wed Sep 5 17:40:53 2007 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments
