Boundless Sociology

Government
Types of States
Types of States
States vary based on who holds power, who elects the empowered, and how authority is
maintained.

Learning Objectives
Identify the central features that distinguish different types of states

Key Takeaways
Key Points
One way to classify these governments is by looking at how leaders gain power. Under this
system, governments fall into general categories of authoritarianism, oligarchy, and democracy.
Authoritarian governments differ in who holds power and in how much control they assume over
those that they govern, but all are marked by the fact that the empowered are unelected
individuals. One well-known example of this type of government is a monarchy.
An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment
of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family, military, or religious hegemony. One common
example is theocracy.
Democracy is a form of government in which the right to govern is held by the majority of
citizens within a country or a state. All members of the society have equal access to power and
all members enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.

Key Terms
oligarchy: A government run by only a few, often the wealthy
Democratic presidential republic: A system of government where an executive branch is led by
a president who serves as both head of state and head of government; in such a system, this
branch exists separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which it cannot,
in normal circumstances, dismiss.
theocracy: Government under the control of a Church or state-sponsored religion

States come in a variety of forms that vary based on who holds power, how positions of
leadership are obtained, and how authority is maintained. The United States is a democratic
presidential republic: a democratic government headed by a powerful elected executive, the
president. The United States originally won its independence from Britain, which was a
monarchy, in which power was concentrated in an individual king. Other forms of government
include oligarchy and dictatorship or totalitarianism. One way to classify these governments is
by looking at how leaders gain power. Under this system, governments fall into general
categories of authoritarianism, oligarchy, and democracy.

Authoritarian Governments
Authoritarian governments differ in who holds power and in how much control they assume over
those that they govern, but all are marked by the fact that the empowered are unelected
individuals. One well-known example of this type of government is a monarchy.

A monarchy is a form of government in which supreme power is absolutely or nominally lodged

with an individual, who is the head of state, often for life or until abdication. The person who
heads a monarchy is called a monarch. There is no clear definition of monarchy. Some
monarchs hold unlimited political power while many constitutional monarchies, such as the
United Kingdom and Thailand, have monarchs with limited political power. Hereditary rule is
often a common characteristic, but elective monarchies are also considered monarchies (e.g.,
The Pope) and some states have hereditary rulers, but are considered republics (e.g., the Dutch
Republic). Currently, 44 nations in the world have monarchs as heads of state.

Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system that strives to regulate nearly every
aspect of public and private life. Totalitarian regimes or movements maintain themselves in
political power by means of an official all-embracing ideology and propaganda disseminated
through the state -controlled mass media, a single party that controls the state, personality cults,
control over the economy, regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism, the use of
mass surveillance, and widespread use of state terrorism.

Oligarchic Governments
An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment
of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family, military, or religious hegemony. An oligarchy is
different from a true democracy because very few people are given the chance to change
things. An oligarchy does not have to be hereditary or monarchic. An oligarchy does not have
one clear ruler, but several powerful people who rule. One common example is that of
theocracy.

Theocracy is a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme
civil ruler, or in a broader sense, a form of government in which a state is governed by
immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. Theocratic
governments enact theonomic laws. Theocracies are distinguished from other secular forms of
government that have a state religion, or are merely influenced by theological or moral
concepts, and monarchies held "by the Grace of God. "

Democratic Governments
Democracy is a form of government in which the right to govern is held by the majority of
citizens within a country or a state. The two principles of a democracy are that all citizens have
equal access to power and that all citizens enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.
There are several varieties of democracy, some of which provide better representation and more
freedoms for their citizens than others. However, if any democracy is not carefully legislated with
balances, such as the separation of powers, to avoid an uneven distribution of political power,
then a branch of the system of rule could accumulate power and become harmful to the
democracy itself. Freedom of political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press
are essential so that citizens are informed and able to vote in their personal interests.

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Countries of the World, by Type of Government in 2011: This map shows all the countries of the
word, colored according to their type of government. Blue represents full presidential republics,
while green and yellow are presidential republics with less powerful presidents. Orange
represents parliamentary republics. Red and pink are parliamentary constitutional monarchies,
and purple represents absolute monarchies. Brown represents single-party republics, green
shows countries where government has been suspended (e.g., military dictatorships), and grey
countries do not fit any of the above categories.

Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which supreme power is absolutely or nominally lodged
with an individual, who is the head of state.

Learning Objectives
Give examples of monarchies in the contemporary world

Key Takeaways
Key Points
Monarchy was a common form of government in the world during the ancient and medieval
times. It is less common today, although several monarchies still exist.
Modern monarchies often takes the form of a constitutional monarchy, in which the monarch
retains a unique legal and ceremonial role, but exercises limited or no political power pursuant
to a constitution or tradition which allocates governing authority elsewhere.
Most states only have a single person acting as monarch at any given time, although two
monarchs have ruled simultaneously in some countries, a situation known as diarchy.

Key Terms
diarchy: A form of government where power is shared between two joint authorities.
hereditary rule: Hereditary rule is a form of government in which all the rulers come from the
same family, and the crown is passed down from one member to another member of the family.

A monarchy is a form of government in which supreme power is absolutely or nominally lodged

with an individual, who is the head of state, often for life or until abdication. The person who
heads a monarchy is called a monarch.

image
Queen Elizabeth II: Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of the United Kingdom.
Monarchy was the most common form of government into the 19th century, but it is no longer
prevalent, at least at the national level. Monarchy now often takes the form of a constitutional
monarchy, in which the monarch retains a unique legal and ceremonial role, but exercises
limited or no political power pursuant to a constitution or tradition which allocates governing
authority elsewhere. Currently, 44 nations in the world have monarchs as heads of state. Of
these, 16 are Commonwealth realms such as Canada and Australia that recognize the monarch
of the United Kingdom as their head of state.

There is no clear definition of monarchy. Even characteristics most commonly associated with
monarchies are not universal. For example, monarchies are often though of as highly
centralized forms of absolute power. But holding unlimited political power in the state is not the
defining characteristic, as many constitutional monarchies such as the United Kingdom and
Thailand are considered monarchies yet their monarchs have limited political power. Hereditary
rule is often a common characteristic, but some monarchs are elected (e.g., the Pope), and
some states with hereditary rulers are nevertheless considered republics (e.g., the Dutch
Republic).

Most states only have a single person acting as monarch at any given time, although two
monarchs have ruled simultaneously in some countries, a situation known as diarchy.
Historically, this was the case in the ancient Greek city-state of Sparta or 17th-century Russia,
and there are examples of joint sovereignty of spouses or relatives (such as William and Mary in
the Kingdoms of England and Scotland).

Oligarchy
An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment
of society.

Learning Objectives
Compare and contrast the different types of oligarchical governments that exist

Key Takeaways
Key Points
Like monarchies, oligarchies may depend on blood relations, but they may also depend on
wealth, religion, or military hegemony.
In de jure oligarchies, an elite group is given power by the law. For example, the law may give
only nobility the right to vote, or a theocracy may be ruled by a group of religious leaders.
In de facto oligarchies, those with more resources are able to gain political power, despite laws
that ostensibly treat all citizens equally.
Some contemporary authors have characterized the United States ' current state of affairs as
being oligarchic in nature.

Key Terms
elite: A special group or social class of people which have a superior intellectual, social or
economic status as, the elite of society.

An oligarchy is a form of government in which power effectively rests with a small elite segment
of society distinguished by royalty, wealth, family, military, or religious hegemony. Oligarchies
are often controlled by politically powerful families whose children are heavily conditioned and
mentored to be heirs of the power of the oligarchy. These types of states have been tyrannical
throughout history, relying on public servitude and complacency in order to exist.

States may be oligarchies de jure or de facto. In de jure oligarchies, an elite group is given
power by the law. The law may give only nobility the right to vote, or a theocracy may be ruled
by a group of religious leaders. In de facto oligarchies, those with more resources are able to
gain political power, despite laws that ostensibly treat all citizens equally. One example of this is
a corporate oligarchy, or corporatocracy—a system in which power effectively rests with a small,
elite group of inside individuals, sometimes from a small group of educational institutions, or
influential economic entities or devices, such as banks, commercial entities, lobbyists that act in
complicity with, or at the whim of the oligarchy, often with little or no regard for constitutionally
protected prerogative. Monopolies are sometimes granted to state-controlled entities, such as
the Royal Charter granted to the East India Company, or privileged bargaining rights to unions
(labor monopolies) with very partisan political interests. Today's multinational corporations
function as corporate oligarchies with influence over democratically elected officials.

Some contemporary authors have characterized the United States' current state of affairs as
being oligarchic in nature. Jeffrey A. Winters argues that "oligarchy and democracy operate
within a single system, and American politics is a daily display of their interplay. " Bernie
Sanders (I-VT) opined in a 2010 article from The Nation that an "upper-crust of extremely
wealthy families are hell-bent on destroying the democratic vision of a strong middle-class which
has made the United States the envy of the world. In its place they are determined to create an
oligarchy in which a small number of families control the economic and political life of our
country. "

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Nelson Mandela: In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first president of South Africa elected in
a fully representative election, which marked the end of oligarchic apartheid in that country.

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Alexander Lebedev and President Putin: Alexander Lebedev represents a new class of Russian
oligarchs, which arose after the fall of communism by taking control of major industries. He is
one of the richest people in the world.

Dictatorship and Totalitarianism

Dictatorships govern without consent of the people and in totalitarian dictatorships the power to
govern extends to all aspects of life.
Learning Objectives
Compare and contrast dictatorships with totalitarian governments

Key Takeaways
Key Points
Dictatorship is a form of government in which the ruler has the power to govern without consent
of those being governed.
Totalitarian governments are those that regulate nearly every aspect of public and private
behavior.
Dictatorship concerns the source of the governing power (where the power comes from, the
people or a single leader) and totalitarianism concerns the scope of the governing power (what
is the government and how extensive is its power).

Key Terms
totalitarianism: A system of government in which the people have virtually no authority and the
state wields absolute control, for example, a dictatorship.
dictatorship: A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a
small clique.

Dictatorship and totalitarianism are often associated, but they are actually two separate
phenomena. Dictatorship is a form of government in which the ruler has the power to govern
without consent of those being governed. Dictatorship can also be defined simply as "a system
that does not adhere to democracy," where democracy is defined as a form of government
where those who govern are selected through contested elections. A dictator's power can
originate in his or her family, political position, or military authority.

Many dictatorships are also totalitarian. Totalitarian governments are those that exert total
control over the governed; they regulate nearly every aspect of public and private behavior.
Totalitarianism entails a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority, and
it strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. Totalitarian
regimes stay in political power through all-encompassing propaganda campaigns (disseminated
through the state-controlled mass media), a single party that is often marked by political
repression, personality cultism, control over the economy, regulation and restriction of speech,
mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror.

In other words, dictatorship concerns the source of the governing power (where the power
comes from—the people or a single leader) and totalitarianism concerns the scope of the
governing power (what is the government and how extensive is its power). In this sense,
dictatorship (government without people's consent) exists in contrast with democracy
(government whose power comes from people) and totalitarianism (where government controls
every aspect of people's lives) exists in contrast with pluralism (where government allows
multiple lifestyles and opinions).

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President Nixon and Mao Zedong, 1972: In 1972, Nixon traveled to China and met with Mao
Zedong, the leader of the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party.

Democracy
Democracy is a form of government in which sovereignty is held by the majority of citizens
within a country or a state.

Learning Objectives
Discuss the central features of democratic governments

Key Takeaways
Key Points
Democracies come in several forms, though all have competitive elections and freedoms of
expression.
Democracies must balance conflicting obligations to try to maximize freedom and protect
individual rights.
In most democracies, citizens are represented by elected lawmakers charged with drafting and
voting on laws.

Key Terms
representative democracy: A policy under the rule of people acting on the behalf of and, to a
lesser extent, in the interests of the voting blocks by which they were elected.
separation of powers: A theoretical model for governance, common in democratic states, which
features the division of sovereign power into at least three (but sometimes up to six) organs of
state in order to forestall tyranny, by preventing the acquisition of a monopoly of power by a
monarch or oligarchy; also, such an arrangement.
tyranny of the majority: A situation in which a government or other authority democratically
supported by a majority of its subjects makes policies or takes actions benefiting that majority,
without regard for the rights or welfare of the rest of its subjects.

Democracy is a form of government in which the power of government comes from the people.
More formally, we might say that in democracy, the right to govern, or sovereignty, is held by the
majority of citizens within a country or state. Even though there is no universally accepted
definition of democracy, all definitions include two fundamental principles: First, in a democracy,
all citizens have equal access to power. Second, all citizens enjoy universally recognized
freedoms and liberties.
Democracies come in several forms, some of which provide better representation and more
freedoms for their citizens than others. An essential process in representative democracies is
competitive elections that are fair both substantively and procedurally. Furthermore, freedom of
political expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press are essential so that citizens
are informed and able to vote in their personal interests.

Democracies must balance conflicting obligations to try to maximize freedom and protect
individual rights. For example, many democracies limit representation. In a full, direct,
democracy, every citizen would be able to vote on every law. But in reality, in most democracies,
citizens are represented by elected lawmakers charged with drafting and voting on laws. Many
also institute measures such as the separation of powers, which divides executive, judicial, and
legislative authority among different branches of government to protect against the possibility
that a single government or branch of government could accumulate too much power and
become harmful to democracy itself. Although such measures may limit representation, they
make lawmaking more efficient and help guard against dangers such as the tyranny of the
majority. Although majority rule is often described as a characteristic feature of democracy,
without responsible government it is possible for the rights of a minority to be abused by the
tyranny of the majority, in which a majority institutes policies abusive to a minority (for example,
a racial majority may deny a racial minority access to education, housing, jobs, or other
resources).

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Electoral Democracies: This map depicts electoral democracies around the world, as judged by
Freedom House in 2006. Different colors indicate different forms of democracy. Orange
countries are parliamentary republics. Green, yellow, and blue are presidential republics with
less (green) or more (blue) presidential powe