Authoritarianism is a belief in, or the practice of, government from above’, in which political rule is imposed upon society regardless of its consent. Authoritarianism thus differs from authority. The latter rests upon legitimacy, and in that sense arises from below. Authoritarianism is a very broad classification of government It can be associated with monarchical absolutism, traditional dictatorships and most forms of military rule; and left-wing and right-wing versions of authoritarianism can be identified, associated, respectively, whit communism and capitalism. However, authoritarianism is usually distinguished from totalitarianism, on the grounds that it is primarily concerned with the repression of opposition and political liberty, rather than whit the more radical goal of obliterating the distinction between the state and civil society. Authoritarian regimes may therefore tolerate a significant range of economic, religious and other freedoms.