this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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We know what authoritarianism is. What is the opposite of that?

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

We know what authoritarianism is.

Do we? A lot of people think it's when one guy controls everything. In reality, autocracies have hella internal dynamics and quite often exercise less control than a democracy would over a given thing as a result. There's also people that think having to take simple measures to avoid spreading plagues is authoritarian, and people who think entirely removing due process isn't.

To actually answer: It depends on context, because it's not really an ideology in itself. It can mean opposing existing autocracies, or it can mean opposing more mechanisms of control, perhaps in the fear it will eventually lead to an autocracy. Sometimes it just means that the person wants to not have to do anything.

Pure political bs.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 17 points 2 days ago

A terribly long winding word, with too many a's and i's and r's.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 9 points 2 days ago

You can't make me tell you.

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 11 points 2 days ago
[–] neidu3@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago

Depends on how you define "opposite". I'm thinking direct democracy or anarchy.

[–] ArseAssassin@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 days ago

Egalitarianism.

Freedom.

A government that works for the people.

A person who is against authoritarianism.

[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] SereneSadie@lemmy.myserv.one -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not mutually exclusive. Just extremely rare, for obvious reasons.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

What do you mean? Leftism is the even distribution of authority and Rightism is the concentration of authority. Leftism is the polar opposite of authoritarianism by definition.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 2 days ago

Antidisestablishmentarianism but against Nazis instead of the Church of England.

[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 days ago

When you get into political words, it's helpful to go read George Orwell.

Politics and the English Language

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago

Some sort of obsession for unnecessary words

[–] modernangel@sh.itjust.works -1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The opposite of authoritarian extremism is probably libertarian extremism

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"The opposite of drowning is asphyxiation"

Nah man, it's being able to breathe.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, both are opposites in their own way.

[–] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Well, yes, that's my point, sort of. I'm pointing out that it's never really black and white in that way, so his proposal of opposites isn't really that good.

[–] OneSpectra@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Which of those extremes does most of the population benefit the most from?

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Is it better to have no law or evil law? Most extremism have their own unique problems if they are exclusionary to pluralism.

[–] solrize@lemmy.ml 0 points 2 days ago

It's whatever I tell you it is! If you want to be anti-authoritarian, you better get in line!