Authoritarian capitalism

Authoritarian capitalism, or illiberal capitalism, is an economic system in which a liberal capitalist market economy exists alongside an authoritarian government. It overlaps significantly with state capitalism, a system in which the state undertakes commercial activities. However, it is distinct in its combination of private property and the functioning of market forces with restrictions on dissent, a complete lack of freedom of speech or significant limits on it, and either an electoral system with a single dominant political party or a lack of elections.

Countries commonly referred to as being authoritarian capitalist states include China since the reform and opening up; Russia, under Vladimir Putin; Chile, under Augusto Pinochet; Peru under Alberto Fujimori and Singapore, under Lee Kuan Yew. Additionally, the term is often applied to military dictatorships that received support from the United States during the Cold War era.

Political scientists disagree on the long-run sustainability of authoritarian capitalism, with arguments both for and against the long-term viability of political repression alongside a capitalist free-market economic system.