Soft despotism

Soft despotism is a form of government where the leaders have control over people's lives, but they don't use force to do it. Instead, they try to get people to obey by making them think they want to do it – by using things like propaganda, manipulating the way people learn and think, providing rewards and punishments, or making rules that everyone has to follow. It's like when a parent says you can't do something but doesn't actually force you to do it.