Autocracy comes from the Ancient Greek auto (Greek: αὐτός; "self") and kratos (Greek: κράτος; "power, might"). This became the … See more

Formation
The earliest autocracies, such as chiefdoms, formed where there was previously no centralized government. The initial development of an autocracy is attributed to its efficiency over anarchy, as it provides security … See more

Early history
Autocracy has been the primary form of government for most of human history. One of the earliest … See more

Autocratic government has been central to political theory since the development of Ancient Greek political philosophy. Despite its historical … See more

Many attempts have been made to define the political structure of autocracy. It traditionally entails a single unrestrained ruler, known as an autocrat, though unrestrained non-democratic rule by a group may also be defined as autocratic. Autocracy is … See more

Autocracy encompasses most non-democratic forms of government, including dictatorships, monarchies, and dominant-party regimes. … See more

Political repression is the primary method by which autocrats preserve the regime and prevent the loss of power. This repression may take … See more