History Main / SlidingScaleOfLibertarianismAndAuthoritarianism

* JC Denton in ''DeusEx'' is moderately authoritarian at the beginning of the game, but he progresses into this. [[spoiler: He can be either very authoritarian or very libertarian depending on the [[MultipleEndings ending you choose.]]]]

* The Imperium of Man from ''{{Warhammer 40000}}''.

* The Alliance from ''{{Firefly}}'' is a free and democratic society, but with a huge number of rules that they are very serious about enforcing. Like every government, good an bad, the Alliance has some dirty laundry: [[spoiler:it practices human experimentation on its citizens without their consent]].

* The Alliance from ''{{Firefly}}'', is a free and democratic society, but with a huge number of rules that they are very serious about enforcing. Like every government, good an bad, the Alliance has some dirty laundry: [[spoiler:it practices human experimentation on its citizens without their consent]].

* The Alliance from ''{{Firefly}}'', which may actually be democratic in some way (it has a parliament, for example) but is still fairly heavy-handed about law enforcement [[spoiler:and also practices human experimentation on its citizens without their consent]].

* [[HiddenElfVillage Galt's Gulch]] in ''AtlasShrugged'' is a free-market anarchy. The world outside of it, on the other hand, [[{{Understatement}} is anything but]].

As stated in the StrawmanPolitical article, in the real world, everyone is the hero of their own story, and this extends to their beliefs, especially political. This can influence authors' work to lean in one way or the other.

* Libertarianism is about the individual having freedom to do whatever he likes. "As long as he isn't hurting anyone else" is often, but not necessarily, part of the description.

* One State in ''{{We}}''

* {{Traveller}} is an odd-ball compared to the other examples here. Despite its massive battleships and it's lavish aristocracy the Imperium actually has a libertarian ideology and style of government, necessitated by the vast space it rules over. However the Imperial government will not take nonsense and can play pretty rough when it wants to. Local worlds vary in their "control rating" as do states outside the Imperium. Commerce is regulated but not particularly restricted and the Imperial law deals mostly with crimes regarding interstellar commerce (piracy, etc), crimes in specifically Imperial territory(normal crimes in a Starport), and crimes specifically against the Imperium (treason, murder of a Noble or his retainers while in Imperial service, etc), and so on. The Imperial government however, interferes little in local customs unless it feels them [[MadeASlave outrageously abominable]] and even allows minor local wars to be fought as long as they don't make to much of a mess. It would probably be classed as libertarian normally but authoritarian at given times and places.

* {{Traveller}} is an odd-ball compared to the other examples here. Despite it's massive battleships and it's lavish aristocracy the Imperium actually has a libertarian ideology and style of government, necessitated by the vast space it rules over. However the Imperial government will not take nonsense and can play pretty rough when it wants to. Local worlds vary in their "Control rating" as do states outside the Imperium. Commerce is regulated but not particularly restricted and the Imperial law deals mostly with crimes regarding intersteller commerce(piracy, etc), crimes in specifically Imperial territory(normal crimes in a Starport), and crimes specifically against the Imperium(treason, murder of a Noble or his retainers while in Imperial service, etc), and so on. The Imperial government however, interferes little in local customs unless it feels them [[MadeASlave outrageously abominable]] and even allows minor local wars to be fought as long as they don't make to much of a mess. It would probably be classed as libertarian normally but authoritarian at given times and places.

** Ironically, in [[CrapsackWorld the setting]] they are [[strike: one of]] the most progressive race[[strike:s]].

* San Angeles in ''DemolitionMan''

* ''VForVendetta'''s Norsefire.
* [[PoliceState Ocea]][[TheEmpire nia]] in ''[[NineteenEightyFour 1984]]''. [[spoiler:the rival superstates of Eurasia and Eastasia [[NotSoDifferent are implied to be too]].]]
* [[{{Warhammer 40000}} The Imperium of Man]]

* ''[[NineteenEightyFour 1984]]''

* Authoritarianism is about things being best if someone (preferably someone good) is running things for the good of all. The state will control things for the greater good.

[[AC:Most Authoritarian]] -- Your pathetic lives belong to humanity. From this moment on every waking moment should be devoted to that task!
* One State in ''{{We}}''

** Ironically, in [[CrapsackWorld the setting]] they are [[strike: one of]] the most progressive race[[strike: s]].

** Ironically, in [[CrapsackWorld the setting]] they are [[strike: one of]] the most progressive races.

* JC Denton in DeusEx is moderately authoritarian at the beggining of the game, but he progresses into this. [[spoiler: He can be either very authoritarian or very libertarian depending on the [[MultipleEndings ending you choose.]]]]

* In an increasingly rare dystopia example, [[{{StarTrekTheNextGeneration}} Natasha Yar's home planet of Turkana IV]] was a [[{{CrapsackWorld}} near-lawless hinterland filled with factional warlords and roving rape gangs.]] Not a nice place for nice people, as evidenced by her [[{{RaisedByWolves}} gruff younger sister, Ishara.]]

* The Imperium of Man from ''{{Warhammer 40000}}''
** The entire Tau philosophy is "for the greater good".

* Carried to its logical conclusion in an early episode of ''TheSimpsons'', when Springfield takes a self-help guru's message too far. Everyone only does what they want and waives any kind of responsibility. HiliarityEnsues.

* ''[[NineteenEightyFour 1984]]''