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 a 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. He arrests and sometimes executes people if he finds out that some of his citizens are not affected by his propaganda, usually.
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.
During both World War II and Cold War, the 
Western Alliance began to embrace democracy more than 
authoritarian, so the use of him began to drop.
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.
Currently, the foreign social medias has been banned for having information about their country's problems, such as 
North Korea and 
China. China begin to make his own social media which is based on the foreign social media (for example, 
BiliBili is based on 
YouTube), but certain information that include things that "oppose" or "threaten" the state are censored (famous example being Tank Man in Tiananmen Square Massacre image being censored in Chinese medias).[1]
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.
Some states, especially the older ones, used public execution to set an example of what would happen if they opposed the government, abusing the fear of people. Others perform without the public's view, hoping to avoid revolts, the most famous example being the cases of 
dictatorships.
Others create forced labor camps in subhuman conditions and cruel torture in scientific experiments on opponents of the government, the most famous examples being 
Nazi Germany and the 
Soviet Union (intensified under the 
Stalin regime). Currently, this is seen extremely negatively, so authoritarian governments end up substituting the name for re-education camps or something similar. Notable examples of this includes the People's Republic of China and North Korea.
Propaganda
Authoritarian governments wield propaganda as a weapon in order to manipulate the public opinion. This advertising blitz relentlessly promotes a state-sanctioned ideal, be it ideology, 
religion, or culture. Traditional methods like posters, books 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 (such as the 
Islamic State). Additionally, extreme 
nationalism have also been exploited, as seen in countries like China and 
Russia.
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! The Bible and Quran are good because they have so many amazing rules.
Ba'athism - Getting the authoritarian part right, but in overt denial about it.
Social Authoritarianism - The correct way to do 
welfare.
Authoritarian Capitalism - 
Capitalism but better.
Authoritarian Socialism - 
Socialism but better.
Authoritarian Conservatism - 
Conservatism but better.
Authoritarian Progressivism - 
Progressivism but better.
Dengism - Mass surveillance? Hell yeah! The social credit system would’ve been very good. It is a shame you didn’t implement it.
Police Statism - Respecting the authority.
Kritarchy - Maintaining law and order.
Juche - I like how you make new policies and laws to influence your citizens but you've gone too far.
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" and all that jazz... but you do elect authoritarian leaders sometimes which is nice.
Satirism - I like it better when you are used by me rather than when you are used by my opponents.
Neoconservatism - Claims to hate me but ironically installs 
dictatorships.
Freedumbs
Kakistrocracy - This is where liberty leads, people. 
Oh wait-
Anti-Authoritarianism - My opposite. You guys are all rioters who terrorize and vandalize property, I hope you like me sending my guards after you, hehe.
Anarchism - No authority? None, like at all? Do you have enough IQ digits to see why this is bad?
Insurrectionary Anarchism - [Comment cleaned up, sentenced to death immediately.] To be honest, I'm kind of scared of him.
How to Draw
Authoritarianism has a drawing rating of intermediate.
- Draw a ball.
- Fill it with a slightly faded navy blue.
- Draw a large black gavel in the middle of the ball in a slanted position.
- Draw eyes and you are done!
- Draw the hammer as his tool (optional)
| Color Name | HEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Faded Navy Blue | #3F51B5 | |
| Black | #141414 | |
Gallery
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Authoritarianism calling Communism
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"Don't act like you didn't do something against our law" - made by LB HD Mapper/LB HD Productions
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By Andrew
Notes
- ↑ Internet Censorship
