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

Formation
The earliest autocracies, such as chiefdoms, formed where there was previously no centralized government. The initial development … 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 … See more

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

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