An economic and political system in which the economy is designed to meet the needs of the people, but the political power is held by a certain group and/or individual. Any society which is socialist, but non-democratic. Many would claim that true socialism requires democracy by definition.

Communism, as envisioned by Marx and described as a "dictatorship of the proletariat" is authoritarian socialism, although not a true dictatorship. Not all communism is authoritarian, as the anarcho-communists will tell you.

Cuba is an example of an authoritarian socialist state.

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