Hitler’s government qualifies as “authoritarian” in the same way that FDR’s government does. It can describe Starmer’s UK. Or Sheinbaum’s Mexico. It can be applied as easily to Lai Ching-te’s Taiwan as Xi’s China. It’s a nothingburger of a word, mostly implying you don’t like the policies of the person in charge.
Words are commonly misused but they still have meanings.
In a society where the will of the majority is ignored in favour of the will of the few I think most people would agree it’s an authoritarian society, it’s usually not that black and white but every society is closer or further from authoritarian
Hitler’s government qualifies as “authoritarian” in the same way that FDR’s government does. It can describe Starmer’s UK. Or Sheinbaum’s Mexico. It can be applied as easily to Lai Ching-te’s Taiwan as Xi’s China. It’s a nothingburger of a word, mostly implying you don’t like the policies of the person in charge.
I’m not sure I agree with your view.
Words are commonly misused but they still have meanings. In a society where the will of the majority is ignored in favour of the will of the few I think most people would agree it’s an authoritarian society, it’s usually not that black and white but every society is closer or further from authoritarian
Sure. But then the reverse is true, as well. Libertarians call it “mob rule”