There still must be different meanings of the word authoritarian. For example, studies show that if parents use "authoritarian methods", meaning not too passive and not too punishing, then their kids will grow up to not be criminals. If there is not even an official definition, than what definition are you even reffering to? Maybe the definition you're using for authoritarian is "controls several aspects of life, including free speech." Maybe Joe (apoligies to Joe if he is on this mailing list, I just needed a name) thinks authoritarian means "Disobeying the every article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the goal of restoring order." Who's right? What if China is in only one of those definitions? everything has two sides to it. You can't present one side and call it fact.
--- Fred Bauder fredbaud@ctelco.net wrote:
No there is no official body of definition, there is simply what most of us mean by "authoritarian" as the concept is used to refer to certain patterns of behavior.
Fred
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