Answer:
A state in which severe restrictions are placed on the activities of individuals and groups who want to participate in the political system would most appropriately be characterized as a dictatorship.
Explanation:
Dictatorship refers to a form of government based on the power of one person or a small elite. In dictatorship, power is centered on the so-called dictator, who can arbitrarily dictate the conduct of society. The term dictatorship is used for states whose powers are not restricted at all, that is, the head of state has unlimited power. Dictatorship is a type of authoritarianism.
Dictatorship is characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the restriction of freedom of expression and other traditional democratic freedoms.