Authoritarianism
“
A nation based on freedom is just another place to go shopping.
— 
Richard B. Spencer
Authoritarianism is a system of government where centralized power trumps all else. This power requires absolute obedience from citizens and restricts their political and civil liberties. Political scientists have created various classifications to categorize authoritarian states, qualities commonly associated with authoritarian regimes include the absence of free and competitive 
democratic elections and one-party state, as well as censorship, and minimal power restrictions. Though sometimes authoritarianism can reside in democratic countries with free and fair elections where there's a clampdown on liberties instead as well as more emphasis on authority.
Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated and 
centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force. He uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.
Auth is very demanding and angry, don’t mention this to him or he’ll become very angry. He also hates it when people call him 
totalitarian.
History
The shift from 
tribal societies to complex cities often led to the rise of authoritarian rule. Powerful figures, like 
monarchs, emerged from dynasties, consolidating control. In Greece, 
democracy, initially seen as a challenger to authoritarian rule, eventually succumbed to authoritarian tendencies. This cycle continued for centuries. But the 
Enlightenment brought a revolutionary shift. Philosophers questioned traditional authority, sparking rebellions. Though, however, even these newly formed, thought to be good governments often slipped back into 
authoritarianism 
, continuing the cycle and highlighting the difficulty of maintaining a free and just society.
Beliefs
Authoritarian State
While authoritarian rule has existed for millennia (e.g., 
Roman Empire), the idea of an "authoritarian state" became more concrete with figures like 
Louis XIV and 
Thomas Hobbes. Louis XIV embodied 
absolute monarchy and rejected 
Feudalism, ruling with complete authority and justifying it through religion. These regimes tend to persecute opponents and manipulate elections to stay in power.
Censorship
One of, if not the main characteristic of authoritarianism is censorship against the opinion and manifestation of opponents or divergent cultural values. There are several types of censorships, including opposition censorship, 
cultural value censorship, ethnocentric censorship, economic induced censorship, 
isolationist censorship and censorship against 
science.
Detention and Violence
One of the hallmarks of authoritarianism is the arrest (or imprisonment) and torture of political opponents, especially if they are extremely popular, but also arrest small opponents such as demonstrators. They usually use this as an example so that it cannot be repeated, even if it is sometimes expensive, so they end up using other strategies. Notable examples of this includes the 
People's Republic of China.
Propaganda
Authoritarian governmentswield propaganda as a weapon to manipulate public opinion. This advertising blitz relentlessly promotes a state-sanctioned ideal, be it ideology, 
religion, or culture. Traditional methods like posters and school indoctrination are employed alongside cultural manipulation through songs and essays. Opponents are very, very often demonized, often with loaded extreme labels like “
communist” or “
Nazi”. Censorship stifles any dissenting views, while 
satire is used to mock and discredit opposition, often silencing satirists in the process.
This propaganda machine frequently manufactures a cult of personality around the leader or the state itself, portraying them as infallible or godlike figures. This fosters blind obedience and facilitates control, but sows the seeds of future instability.
Propaganda also serves as a smokescreen, concealing the nation's problems and failures. It paints a rosy picture, assuring citizens that the government is competent and the country thriving. This manipulation extends to wartime, where propaganda can obscure defeats.
Stay in Power
As previously discussed, the strategies mentioned above are often employed to keep a dictatorship in power, though these methods can fail in numerous ways. Many dictatorships have historically relied on ideals and religions to justify their rule. Initially, 
pagan and 
Asian religions were used, but later, 
Christianity became the most commonly exploited religion in the West, while 
Islam, Paganism, and various Asian religions were utilized in other regions.
Following the 
Industrial Revolution and World War I, religion was less frequently used to justify dictatorships, with some exceptions. Instead, ideologies like 
revolutionary, 
republican, 
anti-communist, and others became the primary tools for legitimizing authoritarian regimes.
In modern times, dictatorships often use a mix of ideologies, religion, and rhetoric to justify their existence and maintain control. Phrases like "in defense of freedom" or "in defense of anti-American liberation" are sometimes employed, despite their contradictions. After the 
Iraq War, Islam was invoked to justify the rule of certain dictatorships (such as 
Iran) and by 
terrorist organizations. Additionally, extreme 
nationalism have also been exploited, as seen in countries like China and 
North Korea.
Relations
Law and Order
Absolute Monarchism - Unjust and just authority are both great.
Oligarchy - From the shadows, my friend.
Autocracy - You're too narcissistic but I like the way you work.
Marxism-Leninism - The way you work has no room for freedom.
Pinochetism - Throwing dissidents out of helicopters? Creative! WRITE THAT DOWN!
Stratocracy - What better way to achieve and maintain authority?
Theocracy - Rule by a strong 
religious class is great!
Social Authoritarianism - The correct way to do 
welfare.
Authoritarian Capitalism - 
Capitalism but based.
Authoritarian Socialism - 
Socialism but based.
Authoritarian Conservatism - 
Conservatism but based.
Authoritarian Progressivism - 
Progressivism but based.
Police Statism - Respecting the authority.
Dengism - The social credit system would’ve been very good. Shame you didn’t implement it.
Kritarchy - Maintaining law and order.
Totalitarianism - Son, that is a bit too far.
Suspicious
Ingsoc - Grandson, that is way too far.
Enlightenment Thought - Could have ended me, but ended up falling victim to the cycle.
Tribalism - The future is now, old man.
Democracy - Moron. We don't need ya dirty "liberty"... but you do elect authoritarian leaders sometimes which is nice.
Satirism - I like it better when you are used by me than when you are used by my opponents.
Freedumbs
Anti-Authoritarianism - My opposite. You're all rioters that terrorize and vandalize property, I hope you like me sending my guards after you.
Anarchism - No authority? None? So useless.
Insurrectionary Anarchism - [Comment Cleaned up, sentenced to death immediately.] To be honest, I'm kinda scared of him.
How to Draw
- Draw a ball.
- Fill it with a slightly faded navy blue.
- Draw a large black gavel in the middle of the ball.
- Draw eyes and you are is done finish!
| Color Name | HEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | #3F51B5 | |
| Black | #141414 | |
