A display of authoritarian force by a government, particularly when unnecessary, as a means to convince or coerce the media and the population into believing that the government has control in matters of law and order.

plural of authoritah

(humorous, slang, US) Authority (the power to enforce rules or give orders).

A post-Maoist current in Chinese political thought favoring enlightened autocracy. / Any present-day phenomenon of authoritarianism.