The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word DICTATORSHIP
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result DICTATORSHIP
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "It’s not popular, as a rule" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case it’s not popular, as a rule = dictatorship.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DICTATORSHIP mean?
DICTATORSHIP noun- A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.
- A government which exercises autocratic rule.
- Any household, institution, or other organization that is run under such sovereignty or autocracy.