I've drawn up a graph...
Y axis is power of the central government
X axis is the purpose that power is used for
If it confuses you, you're on your own because I got a headache trying to explain it any better last night.
So, to be authoritarian does not necessarily mean it's 1984. A government in complete control can still grant total freedom to it's citizens. The sad part is, some people cannot possibly imagine it this way because today's leaders are pieces of despicable shit.