Tyranny’s hallmarks are arbitrary power and mutual fear between ruler and people.

Evidence

Arbitrary power, unrestricted by law, wielded in the interest of the ruler and hostile to the interests of the governed, on one hand, fear as the principle of action, namely fear of the people by the ruler and fear of the ruler by the people, on the other—these have been the hallmarks of tyranny throughout our tradition. — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1038

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines classical tyranny as the baseline against which totalitarian novelty is measured — useful contrast term for the field.