Bugbear - About Foucault. His metaphor of the panopticon power structure is one of my favorite ways to conceptualize political power relationships and positioning.
Your list is comprehensive. Something that might add to your exploration are the similarities concerning the use of 'rules' and the consequences for breaking the rules.
Within each politco-cultural group that you mention, the more totalitarian the regime, the more 'micro-managed' it becomes. Stringent and numerous rules, sometimes ones that make little sense, are put in place - like a net around the power base - and the consequences for those who get caught in the net, become more dire as the control tightens.
*to add - the rules act as the cell walls in the panopticon - the rules serve to divide and keep the 'inmates' under control
Good luck with your Phd - I wouldn't mind getting one of those before I die, too. :) I could then change my name to Dr. Crow. Lol!