| Totalitarianism | Authoritarianism | |
| Charisma | High | Low |
| Role conception | Leader as function | Leader as individual |
| Ends of power | Public | Private |
| Corruption | Low | High |
| Official ideology | Yes | No |
| Limited pluralism | No | Yes |
| Legitimacy | Yes | No |
| Totalitarianism | Authoritarianism | |
| Charisma | High | Low |
| Role conception | Leader as function | Leader as individual |
| Ends of power | Public | Private |
| Corruption | Low | High |
| Official ideology | Yes | No |
| Limited pluralism | No | Yes |
| Legitimacy | Yes | No |
Totalitarian and Authoritarian Dictators: A Comparison of Fidel Castro and Alfredo Stroessner
by Paul C. Sondrol
Compared to totalitarian systems, authoritarian systems may also leave a larger sphere for private life, lack a guiding ideology, tolerate some pluralism in social organization, lack the power to mobilize the whole population in pursuit of national goals, and exercise their power within relatively predictable limits.
The difference one could be summarised like this:
Authoritarian state: “Mind your own business, or we’ll shoot you”
Totalitarian state: “Do what we say, or we’ll shoot you”