WorldAugust 16, 2026
authoritarian
uh-THOR-uh-TEHR-ee-un
Definition
Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom, often describing a system or leader that exercises power in a top-down, non-democratic manner.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'auctoritas' meaning authority or influence; the term evolved to describe systems characterized by the imposition of control and a lack of individual liberty.
In the news
The article questions whether the Bar Council of India's decision to freeze student enrollments was an authoritarian exercise of power that exceeded the regulator's statutory boundaries.
From Legal Regulation to Student Discipline: Has the BCI Crossed the Line?
Read the full article ↗thewire.in