Marilyn Charles, PhD, ABPP, authored "Authoritarianism: Promise and Peril: A View from the (un)United States" in the
Journal of Psychosocial Studies.
"‘Authoritarianism’ is a system of government characterised by strong central power and limited political freedoms, including minimal public participation in decision-making. Unlike democratic systems, authoritarian governments do not tolerate opposition, and maintain power through coercion, propaganda and restriction on political competition. They enforce obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom. Although we ostensibly believe in personal freedom in the United States, we also realise that power needs to be checked."