We might be unaware of the extent of government in our everyday lives. Right from what we eat, where we go to school, to how our tax money is spent, all aspects of people's lives are affected by the government.
In this lesson, we will discuss what government is, what it does, different types of government, and the socioeconomic ideologies behind different government types.
Simply put, a government is a system to govern a state or community. The word government is derived from the Greek verb 'kubernao' meaning to steer with rudder.
The Government runs the country and has responsibility for developing and implementing policy and for drafting laws.
Governments have been around for almost four thousand years. Throughout this time, they have shared the same central function: to lead and protect their people. However, governments do not all look or act the same way.
Among the goals that governments around the world seek to accomplish are economic prosperity for the nation, secure national borders, and the safety and well-being of citizens. Governments also provide benefits for their citizens. The type of benefits provided differ according to the country and their specific type of governmental system, but governments commonly provide such things as education, health care, and an infrastructure for transportation.
1. Democracy - Democracy is a form of government that allows the people to choose leadership. The primary goal is to govern through fair representation and prevent abuses of power.
2. Communism - It is a centralized form of government led by a single party that is often authoritarian in its rule. Inspired by German philosopher Karl Marx, communist states replace private property and a profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of economic production, such as labor, capital goods, and natural resources. Citizens are part of a classless society that distributes goods and services as needed.
3. Socialism - Socialism is a system that encourages cooperation rather than competition among citizens. Citizens communally own the means of production and distribution of goods and services, while a centralized government manages it. Each person benefits from and contributes to the system according to their needs and ability.
4. Oligarchy - Oligarchies are governments in which a collection of individuals rules over a nation. A specific set of qualities, such as wealth, heredity, and race, are used to give a small group of people power. Oligarchies often have authoritative rulers and an absence of democratic practices or individual rights.
5. Aristocracy - Aristocracy refers to a government form in which a small, elite ruling class — the aristocrats — have power over those in lower socioeconomic strata. Members of the aristocracy are usually chosen based on their education, upbringing, and genetic or family history. Aristocracies often connect wealth and ethnicity with both the ability and right to rule.
6. Monarchy - Monarchy is a power system that appoints a person as head of state for life or until abdication. Authority traditionally passes down through a succession line related to one's bloodline and birth order within the ruling royal family, often limited by gender. There are two types of monarchies: constitutional and absolute. Constitutional monarchies limit the monarch's power as outlined in a constitution, while absolute monarchies give a monarch unlimited power.
7. Theocracy - Theocracy refers to a form of government in which a specific religious ideology determines the leadership, laws, and customs. In many instances, there is little to no distinction between scriptural laws and legal codes. Likewise, religious clergy will typically occupy leadership roles, sometimes including the highest office in the nation.
8. Totalitarianism - It is an authoritarian form of government in which the ruling party recognizes no limitations whatsoever on its power, including in its citizens' lives or rights. A single figure often holds power and maintains authority through widespread surveillance, control over mass media, intimidating demonstrations of paramilitary or police power, and suppression of protest, activism, or political opposition.
9. Military dictatorship - A military dictatorship is a nation ruled by a single authority with absolute power and no democratic process. The head of state typically comes to power in a time of upheavals, such as high unemployment rates or civil unrest. They usually lead the nation's armed forces, using it to establish their brand of law and order and suppress the people's rights. Dictators dismiss due process, civil liberties, or political freedoms. Dissent or political opposition can be dangerous or even deadly for the country's citizens.
10. Colonialism - Colonialism is a form of government in which a nation extends its sovereignty over other territories. In other words, it involves the expansion of a nation's rule beyond its borders. Colonialism often leads to ruling over indigenous populations and exploiting resources. The colonizer typically installs its economy, culture, religious order, and government form to strengthen its authority.
Historically, most political systems originated as socioeconomic ideologies. Experience with those movements in power and the strong ties they may have to particular forms of government can cause them to be considered as forms of government in themselves.
Capitalism - A social-economic system in which the means of production (machines, tools, factories, etc.) are under private ownership and their use is for profit.
Communism - A theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
Distributism - It is an economic theory asserting that the world's productive assets should be widely owned rather than concentrated.
Feudalism - Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries. It can be broadly defined as a system for structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land, known as a fiefdom or fief, in exchange for service or labor.
Socialism - It is a social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources.
Statism - A social-economic system that concentrates power in the state at the expense of individual freedom.
Welfare state - A socioeconomic system in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.
Every government has specific roles and duties that it carries on a daily basis.
1. Protect the natural rights
The primary functions of government are to protect basic human rights which include right to life, liberty and to possess property. The idea of natural rights is because every person deserves to enjoy these rights. It is assumed that people are born with these rights and that they shouldn’t be taken away from them without their agreement.
2. Defend against external enemies
War across nations has been a constant condition since the beginning of civilization. The government has a responsibility to ensure peace within its borders. It should also keep external aggressors at bay.
3. Managing economic conditions
The modern government has a duty to fight poverty and improve the quality of life of its citizens. In order to achieve this, the government must create a conducive environment for material prosperity and economic growth.
4. Redistribution of income and resources
Governments should ensure economic pie grows larger to redistribute fruits of prosperity. The government does this by taxing wealthier people and transferring the income to different categories of people who are in need of these services.
Therefore, the modern government can be characterized as welfare state. Therefore, the functions of government are to not distribute only resources from wealthier to poorer individuals. They also redistribute resources from the young to disabled, socially challenged, and the aged. Further, the wealthier governments subsidize food, housing, pension, and healthcare to the poor.
5. Provide public or utility goods
Among the many functions of government is to provide public goods. In most cases, these are services that the private sector cannot provide or they can provide in an unfair or inefficient manner. For example, national security
6. Prevent any externalities
An externality is an indirect cost or benefit occurring from an activity that impacts your society. In most cases, externalities affect people who are not participants in an event or activity. The impact can either be negative or positive. For example, factories can produce air pollution that may contaminate city water supply or affect the quality of air that people breathe. The government must develop and implement laws and regulations on undesirable externalities. Other than being physical as in the case of pollution, externalities can also be aesthetic or psychological. For example, a liquor store located near a school is an externality. The government strives to prevent such events.
