Authoritarian Capitalism

Authoritarian Capitalism, referred to by the abbreviation AuthCap or moniker Illiberal Capitalism, is an economically right wing, authoritarian and culturally ambivalent ideology advocating for a system in which a capitalist market economy exists alongside an authoritarian government. Authoritarian capitalists argue that by utilizing elements of capitalism, regimes may more effectively employ modern technologies to suppress dissidence towards government. In addition, it is argued that capitalist free-market policies leads to an increase in authoritarian policies. The core of this argument lies in the view that citizens will support whichever regime provides the most material comforts.

Authoritarian capitalism is often associated with, and mistaken for, State Capitalism, an economic system in which the state undertakes business and commercial economic activity, and where the means of production are organized and managed as state-owned enterprises. The former has a higher degree of economic liberalization than the latter.