Concepts in Political Science
States:
1. Based on Government Structure:
Unitary State:
Power is concentrated in a central government, with regional or local
authorities having limited autonomy.
Federal State:
Power is divided between a national government and constituent states or
provinces, each with its own sphere of authority.
Confederation:
A loose alliance of independent states where the central authority has
limited power, often only on specific matters like defense or foreign
policy.
2. Based on Political System:
Democracy:
A system where power is vested in the people and exercised through a
system of representation, typically involving free and fair elections.
Dictatorship:
A form of government where one person or a small group holds absolute
power, often without popular consent.
Monarchy:
A system where a single person, the monarch (king or queen), is the head
of state, often inheriting their position.
Republic:
A state where the head of state is usually an elected president, not a
monarch, and where sovereignty is held by the people or their
representatives.
Theocracy:
A system where religious leaders rule in the name of God or a deity.
3. Based on International Status:
Sovereign State:
A state that possesses full and complete independence and control over its
territory and affairs.
Non-Sovereign State:
States that have some limitations on their sovereignty, such as
protectorates or states within a larger federation.
Satellite State:
A state that is heavily influenced by another, more powerful state,
particularly in political and economic matters.
Failed State:
A state that has lost its ability to provide basic services and maintain
order.
4. Other Classifications:
Nation-State: A state where the population largely shares a common
national identity, culture, and language.
City-State: A sovereign state consisting of a city and its surrounding
territory.
Fragmented State: A state whose territory is divided into multiple non-
contiguous parts, often separated by water.
Rogue State: Rogue state" is a term used to describe countries that are
perceived to be a significant threat to international peace and security,
often due to their actions and policies that deviate from accepted
international norms. These states are frequently characterized by their
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, support for terrorism, and human
rights abuses. The term is often applied to authoritarian regimes that are
antagonistic towards the United States or its allies.
Types of Government
1. Autocracy:
Monarchy:
Rule by a single person, typically a king or queen, whose position is often
inherited.
Absolute Monarchy: The monarch has supreme and unchecked power.
Constitutional Monarchy: The monarch's power is limited by a constitution.
Dictatorship:
A form of government where one person or a small group holds absolute
power, often gained through force.
2. Oligarchy:
Aristocracy:
Rule by a small, privileged class, often based on hereditary titles or
wealth.
Oligarchy:
Rule by a small group of individuals, not necessarily hereditary, who hold
power based on wealth, social status, or military strength.
3. Democracy:
Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives to make
decisions on their behalf.
o Parliamentary Democracy: The executive branch (government) is
accountable to the legislature (parliament).
o Presidential Democracy: The executive branch is separate from the
legislature and the head of state is often the head of government.
Democratic Republic: A republic where power ultimately resides with the
people, but is exercised through elected representatives.
4. Other notable types:
Theocracy:
A system where religious leaders rule, or religious law is used as the basis
of government.
Tribalism:
Governance based on tribal affiliations, often with a lack of centralized
authority.
Left Wing-Right Wing: In political contexts, "left" and "right" refer to
opposing positions on the political spectrum. Generally, the left wing
emphasizes social equality and government intervention, while the right
wing prioritizes individual liberty and limited government. These terms,
originating during the French Revolution, have evolved in meaning over
time, but they continue to represent distinct sets of values and priorities in
political discourse.
Left-wing:
Core Principles:
Social equality, progress, government intervention in the economy and
social matters, and often, a focus on collective well-being.
Policies:
Left-leaning parties often advocate for policies like universal healthcare,
social safety nets, environmental protection, and regulations on
businesses. They may also support progressive taxation and wealth
redistribution.
Ideologies:
Socialism, communism, social democracy, and progressivism are typically
associated with the left.
Right-wing:
Core Principles:
Individual freedom, limited government intervention, traditional values,
and often, a focus on national identity and cultural preservation.
Policies:
Right-leaning parties tend to favor policies like lower taxes, deregulation,
free markets, and a strong national defense. They may also be skeptical of
immigration and international cooperation.
Ideologies:
Conservatism, libertarianism, fascism, and right-wing populism are often
associated with the right.
Nationalism
Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty and devotion to a nation,
often promoting its interests and culture above others.
Hyper Nationalism/Ultra-nationalism: Extreme nationalism, the belief in
the superiority of one's nation and of the paramount importance of
advancing it. Hindutva [the cultural justification of Hindu nationalism and
the belief in establishing Hindu hegemony within India founded by Savakar
in 1922] is an example.
Populism
A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that
their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. It can be left or
right wing. Populist leaders of the World: Modi, Trump, Putin, Victor Orban
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