I mean respect in the sense of obedience, not as in an admiration or condoning. Obedience would probably be a better word, common usage to say respect when meaning obedience.
Now we need to understand what the term "Authority" means.
If it is some inflated twat with a penis, badge, gun and an attitude we can just stop right here.
When I follow the orders of an unprofessional and ill behaved police officer, I do it out of a combination of self interest, social norms and a general respect for the rule of law.
Self-preservation is usually front and center in such encounters.
That is no longer compliance with authoritarianism but simply the bad end of a fight or flight scenario.
But not because the police officer has earned my respect or because I wish or enjoy to submit to the police officer, and I am unwilling to give up rights to increase polices authority.
