Absolutism, << AB suh loo `tihz` uhm, >> is a form of government in which one or more persons rule with power unlimited by law. It includes absolute monarchies and dictatorships.
The power of absolute monarchs is unlimited and inherited, and is based on the divine right of kings— the belief that monarchs receive their power directly from God. The monarch may do what he or she wishes. In practice, however, judges, governors, and other officials within an absolute monarchy also carried out government functions according to laws, customs, or simply their own judgment. Absolute monarchs ruled ancient China, Egypt, and Rome. Absolute rulers called czars governed Russia until the early 1900’s.
Most dictatorships are run by a ruler or rulers who seized power by force. In some dictatorships, the government is satisfied to keep the people from revolting while the rulers obtain advantages for themselves. Other dictatorships try to maintain almost complete control over people so as to make great changes in society. Adolf Hitler of Germany and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union headed such absolutist governments.
