Political Systems Comparison PDF

Objective 1: The student will compare the world’s basic political systems. Unit I There are many major political systems around the world. Each of these systems have advantages and disadvantages. Anarchy Some of these are: Democracy...

Objective 1: The student will compare the world’s basic political systems. Unit I There are many major political systems around the world. Each of these systems have advantages and disadvantages. Anarchy Some of these are: Democracy Monarchy Communism Dictatorship (Totalitarianism) Feudalism Oligarchy Theocracy  Anarc hy Refers to the absence of government, the condition in which a nation or state operates without a central government. An absence of public utilities and services, no regulatory control, limited or no diplomatic relations with other nations/ states. Examples: Russia during the Russian Revolution (peasant revolt), Somalia when tribal warlords claimed authority over territorial domains. Anarchist attack against the  Democracy A form of government where everyone can participate. Two types – Direct Democracy – Every citizen has an equal say in the workings of the government. Representative Democracy – Citizens rule through the representatives that they elect. - Democracy is characterized by fair/ free elections, civic participation, protection of human rights and the rule of law. - Republic is a form of Democracy. Citizens legitimize the government. The government is subject to the people and the leaders can be recalled. *The US is a representative democracy.  Monarchy refers to a form of rule in which absolute power and authority Monarchy are held by a single member of a royal bloodline. In a monarchy, the individual in the seat of power is often believed to have been placed there by “divine right,” or the will of God. In a monarchical society, power is inherited within a line of succession that relates to one’s bloodline and birth-order within the ruling royal family. Though the monarchy has historically indicated absolute power, the concept has become increasingly diluted with the evolution of democratic principles. Most are now limited monarchies. Today, some monarchies exist but are merely symbolic, whereas others coexist within constitutional structures. However, until the 19th century, monarchy was the most common form of government in the world.  Queen Elizabeth II Queen  Feudalism Feudalism is a social structure revolving around land ownership, nobility, and military obligation. feudalism refers to a way of life in which sharp, hierarchical divisions separate noble classes, clergy, and peasantry. Opportunities for movement between these hierarchies is largely impossible. In this system, peasants typically provided labor and military service in exchange for occupancy of land and protection from outside forces under the authority of a noble lord. In turn, lordships, or fiefdoms, often engaged one another politically, economically, and militarily. Feudalism was a highly decentralized and agrarian way of life supplanted when the European monarchies created the infrastructure to impose central rule over their various dominions. France of the 11th century is particularly noteworthy for the decentralization of power and the splintering of ruler-ship into many smaller entities. Feudalism in medieval France  Dictatorship (Totalitarianism ) A nation ruled with absolute power, in the absence of a democratic process, and typically under the thumb of a single authority figure or sometimes a small group. Dictators are not restricted by constitutions or parliaments. The governments are not consented to in any way. Elections are held but the dictator is the only candidate. Military dictatorships comes to power by subverting the existing seat of government — sometimes though claims of corruption, weakness, or ineffectiveness — and which subsequently uses the military to establish its own brand of law and order. Military dictatorships will frequently prioritize law and order overdue process, civil liberties, or political freedoms. Dissent or political opposition can be dangerous or even deadly for those living under a military dictatorship. “Just another day in a military dictatorship!”  In its purest form, Communism refers to the idea of common, public ownership of the economy, including infrastructure, utilities, and means of production. Communism, as idealized by thinkers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, denotes an absence of class divisions, which inherently requires the subversion of the ruling class by the working class. Communism often positions itself as a counterpoint to the economic stratification underlying capitalism. This resistance to stratification sometimes also takes the form of a single-state authority, one in which political opposition or dissidence may be restricted. This may manifest in some communist states as a more authoritarian form of governance, as Communism typified by the Soviet brand of communism that swept the globe during the mid-20th century.  Oligarchy Oligarchy refers to a form of government in which a smattering of individuals rule over a nation. In many ways, oligarchy is a catch-all for any number of other forms of governance in which a specific set of qualities — wealth, heredity, race — are used to vest power in a small group of individuals. So, forms of government regarded as aristocratic, plutocratic, or totalitarian, for instance, can be referred to as oligarchic. Oligarchies are often characterized by tyrannical or authoritarian rule and an absence of democratic practices or individual rights.  Early 20th century political cartoon showing the small group of wealthy bankers and financiers at the time as being above the law and thus, controlling the government. This makes them “oligarchs.” Theocracy Theocracy refers to a form of government in which a specific religious ideology informs the leadership, laws, and customs of a nation. In many instances, there will be little to no distinction between scriptural laws and legal codes. Likewise, religious clergy will typically occupy roles of leadership, and in some instances, the highest office in the nation. Because religious law usually extends from writings and traditions that are many centuries old, and therefore impose practices that may not conform with present- day standards of ethical justice or constitutional law, theocracies frequently run afoul of organizations and agencies advocating for global human rights.