What types of political system are most popular today?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

The concept of a political system arose in political science in the middle of the 20th century and implies a cumulative set of institutional bodies and legal norms that determine the life of society. First of all, of course, in the political sphere (besides it, there is a cultural, social and economic one), that is,

the relationship between the government and the people, the transfer of power, their implementation and so on. At the same time, the types of political systems of society were identified, each of which had characteristic features in the exercise of power. Various states and countries have gone through completely unique historical paths. It is not surprising that the specific experience of societies in different parts of the planet has given them completely different types of political system. So, for example, democracy could not have been born in the depths of Eastern tyrannies and became the logical result of the development of capitalism.

The political system. Concept and types

Modern political scientists identify three main types that exist in the world today.

Types of political system: democracy

This system is based on the principle of collective decisions. Once she was born in ancient Greek policies andwas characterized by the gathering of all citizens of the city

(ekklesia) for making important decisions, as well as for electing the council of archons - a kind of governing body. Today, however, states tend to be quite large for such a simple unified assembly. And yet the basic principles of democracy remained. Moreover, it has developed through the experience of state building and the theoretical works of thinkers of modern and contemporary times. The modern democratic system presupposes the mandatory separation of the branches of power in order to avoid its usurpation, the regular re-election of each of these branches and government posts, the equality of all before the law, regardless of property and official status. The main thing in this concept is that the people are recognized as the highest bearer of power, while any government body is only its servant. This implies the right of the masses to retaliate in the event that the government goes beyond the law.

Types of political system: authoritarianism

Despite the mechanisms in democratic systems to protect against the usurpation of power, the latter sometimes happens. It may be, for example, the result of a military coup, or it may not be the result of democracy at all, having formed in the state on the site of archaic forms (for example, a monarchy that has retained its positions to this day). Authoritarianism is characterized by the concentration of all government powers in the hands of one person or group.like-minded people. It is often accompanied by the violation of human and civil rights, the absence of real opposition in the country, and so on.

Types of political system: totalitarianism

At first glance, this system is very similar to authoritarianism. However, if it is held by the power of military bayonets and the suppression of political freedoms, then totalitarianism is distinguished by the deepest control over the social and spiritual life of society. A person here from an early age through various state organizations is brought up in the conviction that this power and this path are the only true ones. Therefore, paradoxically, often totalitarian systems are characterized by greater legitimacy than authoritarian ones.