Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a political system or ideology characterized by strong central power, limited political freedoms, and a lack of democratic accountability. It typically involves a concentration of authority in a single leader or small group, with suppression of dissent and minimal civil liberties. This concept is studied in political science, sociology, and history to understand governance structures and their societal impacts.
Developers should understand authoritarianism when working on projects related to political analysis, social media monitoring, or cybersecurity in regions with such regimes, as it affects data privacy, censorship, and regulatory compliance. Knowledge of this concept is also valuable for building tools that analyze governance patterns, track human rights issues, or support democratic resilience in tech applications.