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Democratic vs Authoritarian - What's the difference?

democratic | authoritarian |

As adjectives the difference between democratic and authoritarian

is that democratic is pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people while authoritarian is of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.

As a noun authoritarian is

one who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.

democratic

English

Alternative forms

* democratick (archaic'': antedates spelling changes recommended and popularized by ''et al. )

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.
  • :
  • (lb) Relating to a political party so called; usually, Democratic.
  • :
  • Exhibiting social equality, egalitarian (see online Oxford).
  • *
  • *:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers,. Even such a boat as the Mount Vernon offered a total deck space so cramped as to leave secrecy or privacy well out of the question, even had the motley and democratic assemblage of passengers been disposed to accord either.

    • Derived terms

    * nondemocratic * quasidemocratic * semidemocratic * German Democratic Republic

    References

    * ----

    authoritarian

    English

    (wikipedia authoritarian)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.
  • Characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority; dictatorial.
    • The authoritarian government was demanding stricter laws for low-wage peasants.
  • Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one was an authority.

    • Synonyms

    * (sense, tending to impose one's demands) commanding, imperious * (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority) illiberal, oppressive * See also

    Antonyms

    * (characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority) liberal

    Derived terms

    * authoritarianism * antiauthoritarian

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
    • The dictator was an authoritarian .
  • One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.
  • * 2006', Robert Altemeyer, ''The '''Authoritarians