In political science, despotism (Greek: Δεσποτισμός, romanized: despotismós) is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. Normally, that entity is an individual, the despot (as in an autocracy), but societies which limit respect and power to specific groups have also been called despotic.[1]
Colloquially, the word despot applies pejoratively to those who use their power and authority to oppress their populace or subordinates. More specifically, the term often applies to a head of state or government. In this sense, it is similar to the pejorative connotations that are associated with the terms tyrant and dictator.[2]
Despot has also been a royal title assumed by various leaders historically.
In political science, despotism (Greek: Δεσποτισμός, romanized: despotismós) is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power...
Oriental despotism refers to the Western view of Asian societies as politically or morally more suspectible to despotic rule, and therefore different...
Enlightened absolutism, also called enlightened despotism, refers to the conduct and policies of European absolute monarchs during the 18th and early...
Oriental Despotism: A Comparative Study of Total Power is a book of political theory and comparative history by Karl August Wittfogel (1896–1988) published...
degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people. Soft despotism gives people...
A hydraulic empire, also known as a hydraulic despotism, hydraulic society, hydraulic civilization, or water monopoly empire, is a social or government...
and discovered similarities between absolute monarchy and bureaucratic despotism. With the translation of Confucian texts during the Enlightenment, the...
The New Despotism is a book written by the Lord Hewart, Lord Chief Justice of England, and published in 1929 by Ernest Benn Limited. Hewart described...
Rosefielde states that the standard of living declined due to Stalin's despotism. While there was a brief improvement after his death, it lapsed into stagnation...
To Kill a Democracy: India's Passage to Despotism is a book authored by Debasish Roy Chowdhury and John Keane, published by Oxford University Press in...
plebiscite," "absolutist rule decked out in the spirit of the age," and "soft despotism." Local and regional administration was reformed to concentrate power...
Justice, in its broadest sense, is the concept that individuals are to be treated in a manner that is equitable and fair. A society in which justice has...
1960? Class Structure and Total Power in Oriental Despotism, 1960 A Stronger Oriental Despotism 1960 The Russian and Chinese Revolutions: A Socio-Historical...
Michael (2009). Orientalism and Islam: European Thinkers on Oriental Despotism in the Middle East and India. New York City: Cambridge University Press...
cardinals, or prince-electors). Other forms of autocracy include tyranny, despotism, and dictatorship. Aristocracy is a form of government that places power...
d'état. Autocracy was among the earliest forms of government. It began as despotism, which existed throughout the ancient world in the form of chiefdoms,...
The Utpala kingdom was a medieval dynasty that ruled over Kashmir from the 9th to 10th centuries. Founded by Avantivarman in 855 CE, it replaced the Karkota...
re-state the premise of the argument again: the theocratic head of a foreign despotism offers money in his own name in order to suborn the murder of a civilian...
while preserving the forms of popular government, so that even under despotism the people learned the ways of liberty. When the dictatorship [of the...
Lüsebrink, Hans-Jürgen (1997). The Bastille: A History of a Symbol of Despotism and Freedom. Duke Press University. p. 151. ISBN 9780822382751. Lüsebrink...
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