Final answer:
Autocracy is a system where one person holds complete power, often seen in dictatorships or absolute monarchies. Dictatorships involve control through force or manipulation, suppressing opposition. Democracies and oligarchies distribute power more widely among elected officials or a small group, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
An autocracy is a form of government in which a single individual holds all the power and exercises it without much limitation or restraint. This ruler could be a monarch in a monarchy, such as an absolute king who inherits their position, or they could be a dictator in a dictatorship. In a dictatorship, the person in control often gains power through force or manipulation, rather than hereditary succession, and maintains it with little to no input or opposition from the population. The authority of a dictator can be unchecked, and opposition is usually suppressed.
By contrast, other forms of government spread power among more individuals or groups. A democracy is a system where power is held by the people, typically exercised through voting in free and fair elections. An oligarchy is controlled by a small group of people who may or may not consider the interests of the general population. Real-life examples of these forms of government include the United Kingdom, which is a monarchy with a parliamentary system, and the United States, which is a federal republic and a democracy.
In some authoritarian governments, control is held by unelected individuals, such as in the absolute monarchies seen in Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia or in communist party-led oligarchies like China and Cuba. Totalitarian systems, like the one found in North Korea, exert more extreme control over citizens' lives, where the government prioritizes its power and objectives over individual rights.