In republican political theory, freedom understood as independence from the arbitrary power of others, so that a person is unfree if someone else has the capacity to interfere in their affairs at will, even if that power is never used.
In more detail
Philip Pettit's Republicanism (1997) made non-domination the core of neo-republicanism, drawing on a neo-Roman tradition that contrasted free citizens with dependent slaves. It is distinguished from liberty as non-interference; philosophers such as Carter and Kramer dispute whether the difference holds. Institutions said to reduce domination include the rule of law, a mixed constitution and avenues of contestation.