An autocracy's a form of government in which the political power's held by a single, self-appointed ruler. The term autocrat's derived from the Greek word 'αυτοκράτωρ (lit. "self-ruler", or "one who rules by himself"). Compare with oligarchy ("rule by the few") and democracy ("rule by the people"). Today it's usually seen as synonymous with despot, tyrant and/or dictator, though each of these terms originally had a separate and distinct meaning.… (More on Autocracy)