Despot employing muscle, hence someone pulling the strings? (10)

I believe the answer is:

absolutist

'despot' is the definition.

'muscle hence someone pulling the strings?' is the wordplay.
'muscle' becomes 'ab' (short for abdominal muscle).
'hence' becomes 'so'.
'someone pulling the strings?' becomes 'lutist'.
'ab'+'so'+'lutist'='ABSOLUTIST'

'employing' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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