Final answer:
A dictatorship is a government form where a leader has complete control over a country, with power over political, social, and economic life. Dictators maintain control through force, surveillance, and suppression of liberties. An absolute monarchy can also have similar levels of central power, but this is less common globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a leader or a small group has absolute control over citizens' lives, this form of government is known as a dictatorship. In such a regime, power is usually concentrated in the hands of one individual or a select few, and the control over the political, economic, and social aspects of the country is total. Unlike democratic governments where power is divided and the rights of individuals are protected, a dictatorship may employ various oppressive tactics to maintain control, including military force, economic manipulation, surveillance, and limits on freedom of expression. An absolute monarchy is another form where all power resides with a sovereign ruler, and can sometimes reflect similar centralization of power as seen in dictatorships.