bureaucratic authoritarianism

Bureaucratic authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the concentration of power in a small elite, with limited civil liberties and political rights for citizens. It combines elements of bureaucracy, a system of organization defined by hierarchy, rules, and specialization, with authoritarianism, which demands blind submission to authority and suppresses individual freedoms.12

Unlike totalitarian regimes that seek total control over citizens' lives and possess a strong guiding ideology, authoritarian states typically do not have a pervasive ideology and may tolerate some social organizations. Bureaucracies, while efficient in theory, can become rigid and unresponsive due to excessive rules and a strict chain of command. In bureaucratic authoritarianism, these bureaucratic structures are used to maintain power, often leading to a lack of accountability and the suppression of dissent.342