What form of governance features no elections and typically is associated with authoritarianism?

The correct answer is dictatorship, as this form of governance is characterized by the concentration of power in a single leader or a small group, typically without democratic processes such as free and fair elections. In a dictatorship, political opposition is often suppressed, and civil liberties are restricted, reinforcing the authoritarian nature of the regime.

In contrast to a dictatorship, democracy is defined by the existence of elections and the representation of the population's will through voting. Fascism, while authoritarian, specifically involves nationalist ideologies and often includes a dictatorial power structure; however, it is not synonymous with the broader term of dictatorship. Communism can vary in implementation but is typically characterized by collective ownership and can include democratic processes in some contexts, though it may also result in authoritarian regimes. Thus, the defining traits of a dictatorship clearly align with the absence of elections and a focus on authoritarian rule.