An autocracy is a
form of government in which the
political power is held by a self-appointed ruler. The term
autocrat is derived from the word
autokratōr (, lit. "self-ruler", or "one who rules by himself"). Compare with
oligarchy ("rule by the few") and
democracy ("rule by the people").
Today the term autocrat is usually understood as being synonymous with
despot,
tyrant and
dictator, although each of these terms originally had a separate and distinct meaning.
Autocracy is not synonymous with
totalitarianism, as the latter concept was forged in 1923 to distinguish modern regimes from traditional
dictatorships. Nor is it synonymous with
military dictatorship, as these often take the form of "collective presidencies" such as the South American
juntas. However, an autocracy may be totalitarian or be a military dictatorship.
The term
monarchy also differs in that it emphasizes the hereditary characteristic, though some Slavic monarchs, specifically
Russian Emperors traditionally included the title "autocrat" as part of their official styles. This usage originated in the
Byzantine Empire, where the term
autokratōr was traditionally employed in Greek to translate the
Latin imperator, and was used along with
Basileus to mean "emperor". This use remains current in the
modern Greek 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 but eventually their power was diminished and dissolved with the introduction of
constitutions giving the people the power to make decisions for themselves through elected bodies of
government.
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
Category:Forms of governmentCategory:Greek loanwordsast:Autocraciabs:Autokratijabg:Автокрацияca:Autocràciaceb:Awtokrasyacs:Autokraciede:Autokratiees:Autocraciafa:حکومت استبدادیfr:Autocratiegl:Autocraciaid:Otokrasiit:Autocrazialt:Autokratijahu:Autokráciaml:ഏകാധിപത്യംmk:Автократијаmy:အော်တိုကရေစီnl:Autocratieja:専制政治no:Autokratipl:Autokracjapt:Autocraciaru:Самодержавиеsimple:Autocracysl:Avtokracijasr:Аутократијаsh:Autokracijasv:Enväldeuk:Автократіяzh:独裁
