we are exiting the liberal democratic age and entering an autocratic, or at least authoritarian, American future. democratic power against control by technocratic elites.

 This may sound a bit like the most alarmist interpretations of the Trump era — that we are exiting the liberal democratic age and entering an autocratic, or at least authoritarian, American future.

But the new future is much more open and uncertain than that dark vision. While many people voted against Trump because they felt that liberalism or democracy was under threat, many other people moved rightward for the same reason — because they felt that was the way to defend liberal norms against the speech police, or democratic power against control by technocratic elites.

authoritarian

/ɔːˌθɒrɪˈtɛːrɪən,ˌɔːθɒrɪˈtɛːrɪən/

adjective

1. favouring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

   "the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic regime"

   Similar:

   autocratic

   dictatorial

   totalitarian

   despotic

   tyrannical

   autarchic

   draconian

   absolute

   arbitrary

   oppressive

   repressive

   illiberal

   undemocratic

   anti-democratic

   disciplinarian

   domineering

   doctrinaire

   dogmatic

   overweening

   overbearing

   high-handed

   bossy

   peremptory

   imperious

   harsh

   strict

   severe

   rigid

   inflexible

   unyielding

   Opposite:

   democratic

   liberal

   lenient

   permissive

noun

1. an authoritarian person.

autocratic

/ˌɔːtəˈkratɪk/

adjective

1. relating to a ruler who has absolute power.

   "the constitutional reforms threatened his autocratic power"

   • taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions; domineering.

     "a man with a reputation for an autocratic management style"