Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of democracy and political plurality. It is a style of government in which the rulers demand unquestioning obedience from the ruled. Authoritarian regimes are systems of government that have no established mechanism for the transfer of executive power and do not afford their citizens civil liberties or political rights. Key features of authoritarianism include:

• Highly concentrated and centralized power: This is maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force.

• Use of political parties and mass organizations: These are used to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.

• Limited political pluralism: This is realized with constraints on the legislature, political parties, and interest groups.

• Political legitimacy based upon appeals to emotion: Identification of the regime as a necessary evil to combat societal problems.

• Minimal political mobilization and suppression of political opposition: This is achieved through the use of propaganda, censorship, and other forms of repression.

Authoritarianism is marked by "indefinite political tenure" of the ruler or ruling party (often in a one-party state) or other authority. The transition from an authoritarian system to a more democratic form of government is referred to as democratization. The term authoritarianism generally means a controlling, operationally oppressive government with concentrated power at the expense of its citizens.