Editing Autocracy (section)

== Political structure ==
[[File:Louis XVI Chevaliers du Saint-Esprit.jpg|thumb|The [[coronation of Louis XVI]] of [[Kingdom of France|France]] ([[Gabriel François Doyen]], 1775)]]
Many attempts have been made to define the political structure of autocracy.{{Sfn|Burnell|2006|p=546}} It traditionally entails a single unrestrained ruler, known as an autocrat,{{Sfn|Siaroff|2013|p=79}} though unrestrained non-democratic rule by a group may also be defined as autocratic.{{Sfn|Siaroff|2013|p=79}}{{Sfn|Gerschewski|2023|p=30}} Autocracy is distinguished from other forms of government by the power of the autocrat to unilaterally repress the [[civil liberties]] of the people and to choose what liberties they may exercise.{{Sfn|Burnell|2006|p=546}} It is distinct from [[democracy]] and [[feudalism]],{{Sfn|Tullock|1987|p=2}} and modern autocracy is often defined as any non-democratic government.{{Sfn|Siaroff|2013|p=79}}{{Sfn|Mauk|2019|p=24}}{{Sfn|Gerschewski|2023|p=29}}{{Sfn|Mukherjee|Koren|2018|p=5}} As with all forms of government, autocracy has no clearly defined boundaries, and it may intersect with other forms of government.{{Sfn|Tullock|1987|pp=7–8}} Though autocracy usually encompasses an entire country, it can sometimes take place at [[administrative division|subnational]] or local levels, even in countries with a more democratic government, if the national government has limited control over a specific area or its political conflicts.{{Sfn|Grzymala-Busse|Finkel|2022|loc=How Autocracies Die}}

Autocracies impose few to no limits on the power of the autocrat,{{Sfn|Gurr|Jaggers|Moore|1990|p=85}} and any formal institutions that exist create only limited accountability.{{Sfn|Mauk|2019|p=24}} To maintain power, an autocrat must have the support of elites that hold influence in the country and assist the autocrat in carrying out their will.{{Sfn|Mauk|2019|pp=26–27}} The amount of direct control that an autocrat wields in practice may vary.{{Sfn|Tullock|1987|p=7}} As an autocratic government solidifies its rule, it develops stronger institutions to carry out the autocrat's will. These institutions are necessary for maintaining control and extracting value from [[state (polity)|the state]], but they can also serve as checks on the autocrat.{{Sfn|Grzymala-Busse|Finkel|2022|loc=How Autocracies Emerge}} Autocrats must also balance the affiliation that regional elites have over their jurisdiction; too little can prevent effective rule, while too much may cause the elite to favor the region's interests over the autocrat's.{{Sfn|Finer|1997|p=67}} Some autocracies incorporate an elected legislature that has a limited ability to check the power of the autocrat, though these are not usually formed through [[free and fair election]]s.{{Sfn|Tullock|1987|p=7}} These legislatures may also be prone to [[corruption]] and can be influenced by the autocrat in exchange for preferential treatment.{{Sfn|Tullock|1987|p=57}} Other institutions, such as an [[independent judiciary]] or an active [[civil society]], may also limit the autocrat's power.{{Sfn|Grzymala-Busse|Finkel|2022|loc=How Autocracies Emerge}}

Some autocracies emphasize a ruling family rather than a single autocrat. This has been the case of most monarchies. Such arrangements allow for [[royal intermarriage]], which can join autocracies together through [[dynastic union]]s.{{Sfn|Grzymala-Busse|Finkel|2022|loc=How Autocracies Are Sustained}} [[Personalist dictatorship|Personalist dictatorships]] may also give significance to the ruling family through a [[cult of personality]], such as the [[Kim family (North Korea)|Kim family]] of [[North Korea]].{{Sfn|Siaroff|2013|pp=237–238}}