Autocracy

Autocracy, political system under which one ruler wields unlimited power, restricted by no constitutional provisions or effective political opposition. Totalitarianism is a modern form of an autocracy. Usually, autocracy prevails in nations wherein the political, social, economic, or other conditions have made it impossible to develop institutions to protect the individual against the whims of one ruler. Modern examples of autocratic government include the tsarist regimes in Russia, the National Socialist, or Nazi, party in Germany (see National Socialism), and the Communist rule of Mao Zedong in China. An autocracy is considered the opposite of a democratic or constitutional government. See also Absolutism.