Soft authoritarianism

Definition

Soft authoritarianism is a political system where the government maintains control through indirect means, such as controlling the media and limiting political freedoms, rather than overt violence or totalitarian methods. These regimes often maintain a veneer of democracy, like holding elections, but manipulate the process to ensure they remain in power.

Related terms

Electoral Authoritarianism: A regime that holds elections but lacks democratic standards like fairness and freedom, ensuring the ruling party remains in power.

Media Censorship: The suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient by authorities or media outlets.

Political Repression: The act by a government or political group of restricting an individual's political freedom through intimidation, persecution, or fear