The document outlines three forms of authoritarian rule: classical despotism, authoritarian state, and totalitarian state. Classical despotism referred to pre-modern rule that was based on ownership of land and people, with absolute rulers in theory. An authoritarian state is a modern police state that strictly controls public behavior to remain in power. A totalitarian state is the most extreme, being a one-party system with a supreme leader demanding control over all aspects of life through ideology, secret police, and sometimes genocide.