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Despotism is government by a singular authority - either a
single person or tightly knit group - which rules with absolute power. The word implies tyrannical rule; it suggests a form of government which exercises exacting and near-absolute control over all of
its citizens.
A variation of the term is benevolent despotism, which refers specifically to a form of rulership that came
to prominence in the eighteenth century. In this instance, the absolute monarchs
ruling certain nations used their authority to institute a number of reforms in the political and social structures of their
countries. This movement was probably largely triggered by the ideals of the Enlightenment.
See Also
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