A political system is the set of formal legal institutions that constitute a “government” or a “state”.
Some common political systems around the world are discussed below.
1. Anarchy - This refers to the absence of government, a condition in which a nation or state operates without a central governing body. This denotes an absence of public utilities or services, a lack of regulatory control, limited diplomatic relations with other nation-states, and in most instances, a society divided into different, locally-ruled settlements (or fiefdoms).
2. Aristocracy – Aristocracy is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule; this is usually contrasted with democracy, in which all citizens are able to rule. Aristocracy promotes an inherent class system that connects wealth and ethnicity with both the ability and right to rule.
3. Bureaucracy – It refers to a form of government in which non-elected government official carry out public responsibilities as dictated by administrative policy-making groups. The rules, regulations, procedures, and outcomes are formulated to maintain order, achieve efficiency, and prevent favoritism within the system.
4. Capitalism – It refers to a form of economy in which production is driven by private ownership. Capitalism promotes the idea of open competition and extends from the belief that a free market economy – one with limited regulatory control – is the most efficient form of economic organization. Its advocates argue that capitalism promotes economic growth, improved standards of living, higher productivity, and broader prosperity; whereas critics argue that capitalism inherently promotes inequality, exploitation of the labor class, and unsustainable use of resources and land.
5. Colonialism – Colonialism is a form of governance in which a nation will seek to extend its sovereignty over other territories. It involves the expansion of a nation’s rule beyond its borders. This often entails the occupation of indigenous populations and exploitation of resources to the benefit of the ruling nation.
6. Communism – This refers to the idea of common, public ownership of the economy, including infrastructure, utilities, and means of production. 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.
7. Democracy – This is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives.
8. Federalism – It is a form of government that combines and divides powers between a centralized federal authority and an array of regional and local authorities. In this system, a set of states, territories or provinces are both self-governing and beholden to the authority of a broad, unifying government structure. This is considered a balance in the approach that provides the roughly equal status of authority to two distinct levels of government.
9. Feudalism – It is a social structure revolving around land ownership, nobility, and military obligation. It is not a formal way of governing but refers to a way of life in which sharp, hierarchical divisions separate noble classes, clergy, and peasantry.
10. Kleptocracy – This is a form of government in which the ruling party has either come to power, retained power, or both, through means of corruption and theft.
11. Meritocracy – It refers to a system of government wherein appointments and responsibilities are objectively assigned to individuals based upon their “merits” and achievements.
12. Authoritarianism – An authoritarian government is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers. It uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the regime.
13. Autocracy - An autocracy is a system of government in which supreme political power is concentrated in the hands of one person; by contrast, a single-party state is a type of party system government in which no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election.
14. Totalitarianism - It is an extreme version of authoritarianism – it is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever necessary.
15. Dictatorship – A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, “a dictator”. It refers to an autocratic form of absolute rule by leadership unrestricted by law, constitutions, or other political factors in the state.
16. Monarchy – In a monarchy, a state is ruled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication.
17. Oligarchy – This refers to a form of government that is run by only a few, often the wealthy.
18. Theocracy – It is a form of government in which religious leaders acting in the place of God rule the state.
19. Technocracy – It is a form of government in which experts in technology would be in control of all decision-making. Scientists, engineers, and technologists who have knowledge, expertise, or skills would compose the governing body, instead of politicians, businessmen, and economists.
20. Republic – A republic is a political system in which the government remains mostly subject to those governed. The main characteristic of a republic is that the government is subject to the people, and leaders can be recalled.
