A system of government where real power is exercised secretly or by hidden rulers; rule by those who conceal their authority.
From Greek 'kryptos' + 'archia' (rule/government), literally 'hidden rule,' describing covert power structures.
The concept of cryptarchy fascinated 20th-century political scientists studying authoritarian regimes—it perfectly describes systems where an official government exists but the real decisions come from invisible networks of military, corporate, or intelligence leaders.
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