What is leadership in today’s political environment and what is authoritarianism? Leadership can be doing what the group wants done or guiding the group to another or greater idea than the original idea. An authoritarian is someone who has total control over the group and all ideas are the leader’s. The group has no involvement in decision making.
                Today we have political leaders with messianic powers over their people. The people are told what to think, say, and do. Disagreeing may mean jail or death. Sometimes their agenda is wrapped in religion as in Turkey with Erdoğan. Others like China’s Xi Jinping have wrapped their agenda within their idea of the Chinese brand of Communism. Both are authoritarians who have a semblance of being elected.
            Putin eliminates any opposition candidate with prison or murder so he can continue in power. In Iran opposing people are jailed and their party banned from the ballot. Other countries do the same but we aren’t aware because their country isn’t in the news. Many of the old Soviet Bloc countries are in that category.
            For a leader to continue in authoritative power they must have control of all or at least a sizeable group of people. These people must believe what that person says no matter how outrageous and obviously false the statements are. This Hitler-like control of sycophants destroys all semblance of democracy while making an easily identified portion of another group evil and destructive.
            Such people have enormous egos and need the adoration of their followers to override constitutions, laws, and morals of their country. Absolute loyalty, in spite of facts, is dangerous to all.