It is a one-party authoritarian state with an official ideology that doesn’t tolerate different views
It tolerates religions but only as far as it has to
There is usually a dominant leader, a dictator or the head of a very small clique
The civil service, the judiciary, the army are all placed under tight control and loyal party members placed in positions to see that they do what the government demands
The media is also tightly controlled and the people are told only what the government wants them to here
There is no freedom: no alternative parties, no free trade unions, no rights to appeal against arbitrary or unfair decisions
There is an ever-present secret police
The courts will not be independent bodies but will represent the ruling party and its ideology
Education and youth organisations will be heavily controlled by the state
Everyone’s roles, what the state expects of them, will be made very clear and will be enforced