Definition
A system of government in which unlimited power is held by a single person who rules with absolute authority. Autocrats make decisions without input from advisors, legislatures, or the people, and their word is law.
Etymology
From Greek 'autokrateia,' combining 'auto' (self) and 'kratia' (rule or power), literally meaning 'self-rule.' The term was used in ancient Greece and Rome to describe rulers with absolute power, distinct from limited monarchies or republics.
Kelly Says
History's most famous autocrats, from Roman emperors to Russian tsars to modern strongmen, demonstrate how concentrated power often corrupts absolutely, leading to arbitrary decisions and resistance to change. Even in democratic countries, emergency powers can create temporary autocracies, showing how thin the line between democratic and autocratic rule can be.
Translations
ARالعربية
استبداد
istibdād
BNবাংলা
স্বৈরাচার
sho-ee-rah-chahr
CACatalà
autocràcia
aw-toh-KRAH-see-ah
CSČeština
autokracie
aw-toh-KRAH-chee-eh
DADansk
autokrati
aw-toh-KRAH-tee
DEDeutsch
Autokratie
aw-toh-KRAH-tee
ELΕλληνικά
αυτοκράτεια
af-toh-KRAH-tee-ah
ESEspañol
autocracia
aw-toh-KRAH-see-ah
FAفارسی
استبدادی
estebdadi
FISuomi
itsevaltius
ee-tseh-vahl-tee-oos
FRFrançais
autocratie
oh-toh-KRAH-tee
GUGU
સ્વતંત્રશાહી
sватант्रшахी
HAHA
autokrasi
aw-toh-KRAH-see
HIहिन्दी
स्वेच्छाचार
svechchhaar
HUMagyar
önkényuralom
ur-nkeh-yur-ah-lom
IDBahasa Indonesia
otokrasi
oh-toh-KRAH-see
IGIG
autokrasi
aw-toh-KRAH-see
ITItaliano
autocrazia
aw-toh-KRAH-zee-ah
KKKK
өзін-өзіне билік
uh-zin-uh-zee-neh bee-leek
KMKM
របបផ្តាច់ការ
roh-bahp phteah-ka
MSBahasa Melayu
otokrasi
oh-toh-KRAH-see
MYမြန်မာ
အာဏာရှင်စနစ်
ah-nah-shin-sa-nit
NLNederlands
autocratie
aw-toh-KRAH-tee
NONorsk
autokrati
aw-toh-KRAH-tee
PLPolski
autokracja
aw-toh-KRAH-chee-yah
PTPortuguês
autocracia
aw-toh-KRAH-see-ah
RORomână
autocrație
aw-toh-KRAH-tsee-eh
RUРусский
автократия
ahv-toh-KRAH-tee-yah
SVSvenska
autokrati
aw-toh-KRAH-tee
SWKiswahili
utawala wa kimabavu
oo-tah-wah-lah wah kee-mah-bah-voo
TAதமிழ்
சுயாட்சி
suyaa-tchi
TEతెలుగు
స్వయంపాలన
svayam-pa-lana
THไทย
การปกครองแบบเผด็จการ
kān pok-krong baep phet-jah-kahn
TLTL
autokrasya
aw-toh-KRAH-see-yah
TRTürkçe
otokrasi
oh-toh-KRAH-see
UKУкраїнська
автократія
ahv-toh-KRAH-tee-yah
URاردو
خودمختاری
khud-mukhtari
VITiếng Việt
chế độ độc tài
che do doc tai
YOYO
autokrasi
aw-toh-KRAH-see
ZUZU
ubukhazamakhosi
oo-boo-kah-zah-mah-koh-see