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Autocracy is the dark mirror of democracy. While democracy is based on our freedom to speak and assemble freely, and requires a range of choices in who and what to vote for, autocracies are the opposite.

What does autocracy mean?

An autocracy is a system of government based on the whims of a single ruler or group with absolute power. This ruler has complete control over policymaking, the economy and the military, meanwhile the rulers are considered above the law. Opposition is usually disposed of by force, and those speaking out against it are silenced. These governments normally take the form of a dictatorship or monarchy, but can sometimes masquerade as a democratic state. It is often believed that autocracies do not elect their leaders, and while that is often the case, autocratic leaders often use democratic means to gain power. There are democratic grey areas such as illiberal democracies and hybrid regimes where autocratic and democratic methods are blended- politicians use democratic means to enter power and then gradually erode democratic freedoms such as a free press. It’s easier than you think for a government to slip into an autocracy, which is why it’s important to keep an eye on our elected representatives.

History of autocracy

Autocracy is one of the oldest forms of government. In the past, most societies were ruled by some form of autocracy, such as monarchies and empires. The earliest texts in the field of political science were actually guides on how to maintain this type of absolute control: While Aristotle’s Politics was progressive for its time, detailing early theories of democracy and how to create a constitution (albeit, one built on the backs of slavery; it’s always important to remember historical context) it still serves as an effective guide for monarchies and oligarchies, as opposed to modern concepts of liberal democracy. Machiavelli’s The Prince is effectively a treatise on how to seize and maintain power, detailing how potential rulers can cheat and kill their way into legitimacy.

Prominent examples of autocracies can be found in the 20th century. Due to worldwide economic struggles, post-war tensions and cultural fears around a changing world, many scholars and politicians debated whether democracy was truly the way forward, giving rise to authoritarian and fascist movements across Europe. Nazi Germany is in many ways the archetypal autocracy, with an all powerful leader and ruling party. The Nazis took over the press, arrested and later killed dissenters, and organised mass executions of those deemed ‘undesirable’ by the state. The USSR similarly used violence, control over the press and the enforcement of conformity in order to further national goals at the expense of people’s freedoms.

But just because we are mentioning historic examples doesn’t mean that autocracy is a thing of the past. While autocratic regimes may have receded in post-war Europe and other parts of the world, the same tendencies are beginning to return under a new guise which experts have termed autocractisation or democratic backsliding, whereby democracies devolve into autocracies and existing autocratic regimes becoming entrenched.

Examples of autocracy: which countries have autocratic governments?

It may be difficult to believe, but more people globally live in autocracies than democracies. According to the 2024 Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) report, 71% of the world’s population live in countries that can be considered autocratic, with only 29% living in liberal and electoral democracies. Naturally, within this 71% there is considerable variation in the political landscape.

We can categorise autocracy under two axes. The first is the form of electoral system. V-Dem categorises autocracies into two groups: electoral autocracies and closed autocracies. In an electoral autocracy, there are multiparty elections only by technicality - they are neither free nor fair and often rigged. While there is a superficial regard for freedom of speech, this is undermined by insufficient protections and disregard by political leaders. Russia is perhaps the most famous example of this, but Serbia, Hungary and India also fall into this category. To learn more about these countries, read our article on illiberal democracies.

Closed autocracies on the other hand don’t even pretend to have these freedoms. There are no protections for speech and assembly, and there are no multiparty elections. These countries are more concentrated in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region of the world, such as Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, but they can exist anywhere. The other axis is whether or not a state is purely a political autocracy, where the state’s control is limited to the political sphere, or totalitarian: where this power extends to everyday life. In a totalitarian state, the heads of state not only have complete political control, but also complete control over all aspects of society. Nazi Germany and the USSR are both examples of a totalitarian state that controlled communities based on secret police and propaganda. Other examples include countries who have been manipulated into submission to further one particular ideological goal, such as conquest or industrialisation. North Korea is likely the most well known example of a totalitarian state that still exists, as it requires absolute conformity among the population, extreme levels of control over citizens, and obedience to the ruling party at all times.

Why do governments become autocratic?

As previously mentioned, we should all be wary of democratic backsliding. This happens for a variety of reasons stemming from the manipulative tactics of authoritarian politicians but also due to democratic neglect. The first thing to watch out for is polarisation. When people cannot communicate and cooperate, it fosters distrust, which leads to scapegoating and extremism. Social media has put petrol on the fire here, as we’ve discussed in this article. Political opportunists can spot grievances in society, whether legitimate or not, and take advantage of them for their own gain. Sometimes they do this via a show of force, seizing power through violence, but it has become more common for autocrats to be voted in during an election, at which point they begin to dismantle the checks and balances so they can take greater control.

Why is autocracy so bad for society?

Winston Churchill might have had a point when he said, “democracy is the worst form of government, except all those other forms that have been tried”. Liberal democracies are not without their problems, but autocracy is never the answer. Democracy has many meanings, but it brings with it freedom of speech, personal liberties and the ability to choose what you think is best for you and your communities. Thanks to this right to choose our political leaders, we have the power to improve society. Autocracies don’t have this; leaders can wilfully neglect their people and erode personal freedoms without being held accountable. Instead of accepting responsibility, autocrats scapegoat minorities and spread disinformation, which sows division and prevents us from acting in solidarity with our neighbours. We all deserve better.

How can democracy defeat autocracy?

Ensuring a free and fair society takes work, but it's worth it. The best way to do this is to stay informed so you can tell when the politicians are misleading or outright lying to the public. It is easy for autocrats to conceal their true intention to tighten their grip on power by depicting their actions as “protecting the nation from outsiders”. Similarly, they discredit their critics, billing journalists as “traitors” who spread “fake news”. This is why the independence of the media, who provide the public with accurate and unbiased information, is one of the most important guards against democratic backsliding.

Governments need to be supportive of civil society organisations that can campaign and advocate for greater freedoms and transparency. These groups give ordinary people pathways to participate in democracy beyond simply voting.

Thirdly, it's paramount that governments hold themselves to high standards by investing in systems of accountability. Abuses of power should be met with consequences; otherwise, it sets a dangerous precedent and undermines public trust. If people cannot trust that political institutions are upholding democratic standards, they lose faith in the system and are vulnerable to the siren song of autocrats.

At Liberties, we do a lot of advocacy to protect your democratic rights. We campaign for the freedom of the press and the rights of journalists to speak out against abuses of power. We encourage governments to become more transparent and ensure that they stick to the rule of law. Keeping the public informed is a particularly important mission of Liberties. If the ordinary person is aware of the world around them, they can go out and campaign, vote, speak to our leaders and demand better for those around them.

And is that not what democracy is all about?

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Further reading:

Which are the Most and Least Democratic Countries in the World?

Nationalism And Populism: What Is The Difference? How Are They Connected?

Why Is an Authoritarian Government Bad?

Photo credits:

Flickr.com: European People's Party, ΝΕΑ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ

Unsplash: Meizhi Lang, Mikita Yo