Despotism is the desire for unlimited power, which is achieved regardless of the opinions and needs of others, by demanding constant and complete obedience.
What is DESPOTISM – definition and meaning in simple words.
In simple terms, despotism is the establishment and maintenance of absolute power, especially in a brutal way.
- In terms of a state system, despotism is defined as a regime in which the ruler has absolute power. A monarchy in which absolute power belongs to the king is an example of despotism. The extreme degree of despotism is authoritarianism.
- From the point of view of psychology, despotism is a trait of a person who seeks to control others, while being cruel and aggressive.
Synonyms for the word “despotism” include autocracy, tyranny, authoritarianism, and oppression.
Synonyms for the word “despot”: autocrat, tyrant, exploiter, oppressor.
Etymology of the words “despotism” and “despot”.
The word “despot” comes from the Greek despotes, which means “ruler or one who holds power”. A despot has absolute control over people. For example, pharaohs and Byzantine emperors were called “despots”. After entering the English language in 1562, the word “despot” became a general title for anyone in power. But in the early 18th century, the word usage changed and began to mean “an absolute ruler of a country; any ruler who rules absolutely or tyrannically; any person with tyrannical power; a tyrant, an oppressor.” The modern use of the word gained popularity during the French Revolution, when it was used by revolutionaries to describe the government of Louis XVI. In the 20th century, the problem of despotism was discussed in connection with fascism and the Holocaust.
Early sources of despotism.
According to Montesquieu, some of Europe’s despotic ideas came from the most sublime sources, namely the works of Plato, his student Aristotle, and the teachings of the church. Although these sources are thought to instill virtue and thus try to make people better, Montesquieu speaks of the excesses and even cruelty of the ideas that can be found in these old and revered books. For example, he emphasizes Plato’s harmful doctrines that slaves have no right to self-defense, magistrates should be absolute, and punishments should be frequent and severe. Likewise, Aristotle’s teachings promote despotic practices by relying too much on the virtue of princes.
Despot, dictator, tyrant, autocrat – who are they, and what is the difference?
- A dictator was originally just someone who gave orders. During a crisis in the Roman Empire, a “dictator” was someone like a chief magistrate who was appointed and given absolute power, but only for the duration of the state of emergency. Later, the head of state became a “dictator,” again without any connotation of an “iron hand.” More generally, this word implies despotic or totalitarian rule and is therefore rarely used in a neutral sense. In a “dictatorship” regime, power is concentrated in the hands of one person or a small group of people.
- The word “tyrant” first appeared in the late 13th century with the meaning “a king or ruler who uses his power in an oppressive, unjust, or cruel way; a despot.” But since the mid-14th century, it has also come to mean “ruler, prince”. Over time, the word has come to mean “one who seizes supreme power in a state without legal rights; an absolute ruler; a usurper.” A “tyrant” differs from other absolute rulers who come to power to a certain extent legitimately and then consolidate this power to absolutism.
- An “autocrat” rules an “autocracy” in which one person or political party has complete power. An autocracy is characterized by the concentration of power in a single center, whether it is a single dictator or a group of power holders such as a committee or party leadership. This center relies on force to suppress opposition and limit social development that might lead to opposition. The power of the center is not subject to effective control and is not limited by these sanctions: it is absolute power. “Autocrat” is the original name of the Russian tsars. “Autocracy” is a form of domination established in the mid-15th century by Ivan the Great, who was only Ivan III until he expelled the Mongols and created a new legal system and established tight control over the government. Catherine the Great was the first to call herself “autocrat” in 1762 in her manifestos.
All of these names are also used in non-governmental contexts to describe people whose behavior we do not like. Sometimes these definitions overlap, and one term is often used to describe another, but even as synonyms they carry slightly different connotations.
The despotic regime of the state.
Despotic power is inherited by humans from our animal past and is the most dangerous element in human sociality. Often, the despot’s unlimited power was explained by his divine origin, which led to his lifelong deification. Examples include the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, Japanese emperors, Aztec and Inca rulers. European monarchs, including the Russian emperors, although not directly deified, were nevertheless considered “anointed of God,” i.e., people who had an exclusive divine right to power.
Modern historians identify several main features of despotism in the classical sense of the word:
- Unlimited power of the despot. The state has no codes of laws, constitutions, or representative bodies that limit the power of the ruler.
- Absence of private property rights in the state. All material goods, means of production, land, and the people who inhabit the country are considered the property of the despot.
- Transfer of power by inheritance. A hereditary ruler is appointed at the personal discretion of the despot, without taking into account the opinion of the people and his inner circle.
- Justification of the despot’s right to power by his divine origin or the divine origin of his right to rule the country.
- The country is governed by a bureaucratic or aristocratic hierarchical system.
- State despotism seeks to undermine the established global order of the rule of law and democracy.
Neo-despotism.
Today, “despotism” seems to be a marginalized concept that refers to an archaic form of government. Paradoxically, however, in the modern world, despotism thrives in the shadows. And at the same time, most people voluntarily follow clearly despotic leaders. Modern despotism (or neo-despotism) is perceived as a political “art” and even tends to become normalized (as a cult of personality). All modern despotic regimes consider themselves to be a kind of democracy (e.g., Chinese “people’s democracy”) and base their power on the sovereignty of their citizens, while proclaiming their version of democracy to be superior to the traditional Western concept. These despotic regimes use tools that create the illusion of democracy without transferring real political power to citizens. These are “ghost democracies”.
The main feature of neo-despotism is that it can act as its opposite, presenting itself as a sphere of freedoms. Neo-despotism speaks the language of fear and security, but does not seek to legitimize the despotic order as such. On the contrary, it promises a new, democratic world, free from despots and their terror.
In other words, neo-despotism is despotism that convinces us that it is not despotism.
Thus, it is an oxymoron – an anti-despotic despotism.
Signs of a modern despotic regime.
Prof. Keane identified several key features of the new despotic regimes:
- Despotic regimes understand that the consent of the people is the source of their continued power;
- Every despotic regime is built on patron-client relationships that undermine the rule of law;
- All despotic regimes are plutocratic, utilize state capitalism, and generate enormous social inequality;
- All oppressive regimes control all forms of political discourse, often presenting contradictory positions to both engage and isolate their populations and prevent any serious independent movements against the state;
- All despotic regimes hold “elections”, although real power is not transferred to the citizens;
- Despotic regimes use extensive state media to propagate their ideology;
- Despotic regimes mask state violence through fear and torture;
- All despotic regimes claim to be an example of a society based on the rule of law, although in reality it is a facade rife with corruption and injustice.
Despotism in psychology.
In psychology, despots are characterized as unethical and authoritarian people who use an unethical code of conduct and have little regard for the interests of others. Pursuing their own interests, they can be:
- overbearing,
- controlling,
- vengeful,
- those who love to exploit others.
The detrimental effects of oppressive leadership in the family and workplace underscore the importance of understanding the impact of this type of leadership on the lives of family members and subordinates.
Is despotism a male or female trait?
Both men and women manifest despotism as a personality trait, with only slight outward differences in the choice of methods. At first, it may seem that despotism is a purely masculine trait, just as when it comes to rape, everyone immediately sees a woman as a victim. However, women are also despotic in many ways, it just takes the form of physical violence less often. Women can destroy a man morally, with jealousy, blackmail, constant hysterics, suicide threats, reproaches, and humiliation.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Despotism is a form of government where a single ruler, known as a despot, holds absolute power and authority over the state, often without any legal constraints or checks and balances.
Despotism is distinct from other types of government, like democracy or monarchy, because it concentrates power in the hands of a single individual who often rules arbitrarily, without consideration for the interests of the people or the rule of law.
While many despots are considered dictators, not all dictators are necessarily despots. A dictator may have limited power or be bound by a constitution, whereas a despot holds absolute power and is not restricted by any legal framework.
Some factors that can contribute to the rise of despotism include political instability, weak institutions, economic challenges, and the desire of a charismatic or powerful leader to consolidate power.
While despotism can bring short-term stability and decisive decision-making, it often comes at the cost of long-term development, freedom, and fairness. Therefore, it is generally seen as an undesirable form of government.
Examples of despotism throughout history include the reigns of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, Mao Zedong in China, and Pol Pot in Cambodia. Each of these rulers wielded absolute power and made decisions that had severe consequences for their people.
While it can be challenging to hold despotic rulers accountable during their reign, many have faced justice or repercussions after leaving power. This can occur through domestic or international trials, sanctions, or other forms of legal action.
