It’s simple to label a government as “authoritarian” just because they have things called “laws” that prevent you from exploiting their people. Likewise, it’s convenient to repeatedly tell your citizens that distant, non-English-speaking countries are “authoritarian.” The truth is, for every Westerner who can afford to travel and verify these claims, a million others will just accept what the media tells them. They’ll even go on to reinforce these narratives, despite having no firsthand experience or direct connection to these places.