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authoritarian regime

authoritarian regime

5 7.4
A government where one leader or a small group holds power and limits people's freedoms
  • noun
  • /ˌɔːθəˈrɪtɛriən rɪˈɡeɪm/
translation icon : régimen autoritario
  • In many countries, an authoritarian regime restricts freedom of speech and suppresses dissent.
  • support authoritarian regimes
  • bureaucratic authoritarian regimes
  • collapse of an authoritarian regime

Yeah, sometimes standing up to an authoritarian regime is difficult because you don't know.

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Examples

  • The United States cannot eradicate Islamist radicalism through unconditional support for authoritarian regimes.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The worry is, does this work if an authoritarian regime is running it?

  • To what extent can an authoritarian regime legitimate its presence and its projects?

    Academic text (1991)
  • In other words, an authoritarian regime is desirable if it can produce political stability.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Gray cannot consistently argue that an authoritarian regime knows what is best for all its subjects.

    Academic text (1999)
  • First, its advocates simply assume that an authoritarian regime can foster economic development.

    Academic text (1993)
  • It was the first country to rise in protest successfully against an authoritarian regime in the region.

  • Indeed, this is why the programs were such a source of irritation to the authoritarian regimes.

    Academic text (2013)
  • They want an authoritarian regime, they want to consolidate power behind one leader.

  • The Albanian people suffered under a ruthless authoritarian regime in a system that was extremely dehumanizing.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

regime
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Literature
535 6.1

A government that rules a country, often not democratic and strict

refers more specifically to a government where political power is concentrated and unaccountable
dictatorship
vsauthoritarian regime
157 4.8

A government where one person or a small group has all power and does not allow political opposition

stresses that power is concentrated in leaders who are not accountable to the public
tyranny
vsauthoritarian regime
109 6.7

One person or a small group rules a country cruelly

is about concentrated power without accountability rather than necessarily cruel methods
police state
vsauthoritarian regime
30 7.5

A country where the government uses strict police control and spying to limit people's freedoms

focuses on concentrated political power in leaders or elites rather than policing methods
junta
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Literature
18 8.1

A group of military officers who take control of a country by force

is a form of concentrated power that is not restricted to military takeovers
oligarchy
vsauthoritarian regime
17 8.9

A small group of people who have most power in a country or organization

stresses that the small group's power is not accountable to the public
authoritarianism
vsauthoritarian regime
11 8.7

A system where one person or small group has almost all political power

refers to a specific government where political power is concentrated and not accountable
despotism
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Formal
7 9.6

A government where one person or group has all power and rules cruelly

focuses on concentrated political power and lack of public accountability rather than cruelty
autocracy
vsauthoritarian regime
5 8.2

A government in which one person has all power

allows concentrated power either in one person or a small group not accountable
absolutism
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Formal
3 8.1

A system where one ruler has complete power

applies to an actual government where power is concentrated and not accountable
authoritarian state
vsauthoritarian regime
1 7.6

A country ruled by leaders who tightly control people's lives and freedoms

focuses on concentrated political power in a leader or small elite not accountable
one-man rule
vsauthoritarian regime
1 8.2

A government where one person has all power and others cannot oppose them

also covers power held by a small elite, not exclusively one person
monocracy
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Formal
9.9

A government where one person has all power over the country and no limits

includes power concentrated in a leader or small elite, not limited to one person
autarchy
vsauthoritarian regime
  • Formal
9.9

A government where one person has all the power and decides everything

can also cover power concentrated in a small elite rather than strictly one person

Antonyms

782 1.6

A system of government where people choose leaders by free elections

78 5.8

A political belief that values individual freedom, equal rights, limited government, free markets, and social progress

How Authoritarian

totalitarian regime
  • Formal
6 8.3
dictatorship
157 4.8
authoritarian regime
5 7.4
democracy
782 1.6
liberalism
78 5.8

Surface Forms

Morphology

authoritarian + regime

The phrase is directly compositional: 'authoritarian' describes strict, unaccountable control and 'regime' denotes a governing system, so together they plainly mean a government concentrating power in an unaccountable leader or elite. This modifier + noun combination follows regular semantic composition and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Authoritarian regime comes from two parts: authoritarian (from 'authority', meaning a strong ruler) and regime (meaning 'rule' or a way of governing). Imagine one leader or a small group standing over everyone, making all the decisions and not listening to the people. That's why it means a government where power is held by a leader or small elite who are 'not accountable' to the public.