![]() ![]() The simplest realist distinction is saying there are three types of tyranny and despotism: The leaders of any sort of despotic movement are tyrants. With that mind authoritarian, totalitarian, dictatorship, despotism, and tyranny all have slightly different connotations (despite speaking to the same general concept of tyranny). In other words, the term “Authoritarian Totalitarian Dictatorship” works well to describe most despotic and/or tyrannical government forms. Dictatorship – a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws). Totalitarian is a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population. Authoritarian – a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens’ lives. “ The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of TYRANNY.” – James Madison, Federalist #47 1786 (using the word tyranny to imply despotic tyranny)Īuthoritarianism, Totalitarianism, and Dictatorships: According to the CIA World Fact Book. “…a despotic government, that in which a single person directs every thing by his own will and caprice.” – Montesquieu on the types of governments 1747 So tyranny is always bad, as the laws are corrupted in favor of special interest, but despotism isn’t always bad (technically speaking although in practice despotism almost never works out well, and generally results in “ serfdom“). Almost all despots are tyrants, but technically a despot can use total power to ensure the general will (like a benevolent monarch). What is despotism? Despotism is almost exactly like tyranny, but it denotes the accumulation of power specifically. And it is by virtue of the law that he is a king for without it, he is a tyrant.” – George Buchanan 1579 “On the grounds that the law was desired to keep the king within bounds, not the king the law. “ Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.” – John Locke 1689, discussing “correct” governments and inalienable rights. “ The sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no laws but his caprice. If there is no justice, there is tyranny. When the law doesn’t favor the people, but instead favors the despot(s), or when there is no rule of law, tyranny arises. What is tyranny? Tyranny is when special interests are put before the general will in the legislative, judicial, or executive. To understand that there are different types of tyranny (and the closely related despotism), we have to understand what those terms mean. This won’t create an exhaustive list, but it will give us a solid foundation for understanding tyranny and the different forms it takes (in terms of politics). ![]() ![]() With this in mind, we can at the least define at a type of tyranny for every classical type of government. When special interests are favored over the general will and the rule of the law, it is a type of tyranny. There is a type of tyranny for at least every type of government. The Different Types of Tyranny and Despotism ![]()
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