The difference between a dictatorship and an autocracy primarily lies in the degree of power concentration and the mechanisms through which authority is exercised. A dictatorship usually involves one leader or a small group wielding absolute power, often maintained through force, repression, or propaganda. Autocracy, while also characterized by concentrated power, may include varying degrees of legitimacy or institutional frameworks. Both forms of government limit political freedoms, but dictatorships are more synonymous with oppressive rule without any semblance of democratic processes.