Authoritarian systems evolve. Authoritarianism in the…

In such systems, there is unquestioning respect for authority. Faith trumps evidence. But if indeed this is broadly the explanation for how co-operative behaviour…

— Robert May, Baron May of Oxford

When the newly formed middle class in China begins to perceive its interests and discovers the value of the rule of law, the existing…

— Heinrich August Winkler

“You find the most outrageous deviants in the countries with the most authoritarian systems.”

— Amélie Nothomb

We have power... Our power isn’t in a political system, or a religious system, or in an economic system, or in a military system;…

— John Trudell

Authoritarianism is not pretending anymore to be a real alternative to democracy, but we can see many more authoritarian practices and styles basically being…

— Ivan Krastev

“Individualism may be the greatest boon to authoritarianism since the whip, and has helped prolong it well beyond its natural lifespan. Its message is:…

— Philip Slater

“The Constitution, the National Assembly, the dynastic parties, the blue and the red republicans, the heroes of Africa, the thunder from the platform, the…

— Karl Marx

“Religiosity that is hostile to sex is the product of authoritarian society.”

— Wilhelm Reich

“Democracy can exist only in the countries where people are brave! Coward nations always live under the authoritarian regimes!”

— Mehmet Murat ildan

As one might expect, authoritarianism will at times cause children and students to adopt rebellious positions, defiant of any limit, discipline, or authority. But…

— Paulo Freire

In any authoritarian society, the possessor of power dictates, and if you try and step outside, he will come after you. This is equally…

— Salman Rushdie

When we talk about authoritarianism, we conjure up out-of-date visions from the 1930s. But we are no more likely to do authoritarian government the…

— David Frum

Authoritarianism and secrecy breed incompetence; the two feed on each other. It's a vicious cycle. Governments with authoritarian tendencies point to what is in…

— Josh Marshall

America is always a good target for a populist. In many countries, particularly authoritarian systems, if you want to get an extra bonus, you…

— Mohamed ElBaradei

China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.

— Rebecca MacKinnon