AP Comparative Government
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๐ณ๏ธap comparative government review
1.3 Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
Verified for the 2025 AP Comparative Government examโขLast Updated on March 9, 2025
1.3 - Democracy vs. Authoritarianism
In this topic we will explore how we can define political regimes. As a reminder, political regimes defines the set of rules and norms that determine the political system. The regime defines who has the power, and that has significant implication in the lives of the citizens of a nation. ๐ฅ
Regimes are either democratic ๐๐พโโ๏ธ or authoritarian ๐ One of the first things you need to be able to do is define those terms.
- Democratic Regimes ๐๐พโโ๏ธ โ Regimes that hold free and fair elections to elect government officials, encourage high citizen political participation, maintain accountable and transparent governments that guarantee due process, typically establish independent judiciaries and separation of powers, and uphold the Rule of Law.
- Authoritarianism ๐ โ Regimes characterized by restricted, unfair, and uncompetitive elections, limited societal autonomy from state control, minimal citizen political participation, corrupt and unaccountable governance, and adherence to Rule by Law rather than Rule of Law.
While we are quick to label the political regime of a country, we must keep in mind that all regimes exist on a spectrum between authoritarianism and democracy. This means there is a significant amount of variation "in between," with several forms and degrees of each (we will explore this further later on). You will dive deeper into these variations when studying each core country individually.
Several factors โ such as history, culture, and economic systems โ are unique to each nation and play a key role in shaping their political regime.
๐๐พโโ๏ธ Characteristics of Democratic Regimes
- Free and fair elections.
- Competitive elections.
- Government-developed policies and procedures that guarantee due process, accountability, and transparency in decision making.
- Political and civil rights are possessed by all.
- Independent judiciary.
- Elected government officials who exercise authority over the government.
- Rule of Law.
Types of Democratic Regimes
Democracy does not constitute one single type of regime. For a regime to qualify as a democracy it must follow all the characteristics mentioned above. But, countries have developed different regimes that embrace the idea that the people should be involved in the political processes. These are some different types of democracy:
- Parliamentary democracy is a regime in which the head of state is chosen through the legislative branch (the parliament). The head of state and the head of government are different officials.
- A Presidential democracy is a regime in which the President is chosen through the election process by the people. In this regime, the president is the the head of state and the head of government. ๐ฉโโ๏ธ
- In Federal democracies the power is shared between central and regional governments. both the central and local governments have their own responsibilities and rules and are also directly voted by the people.
- Direct democracies are s type of system that citizens are directly involved in the decision-making process. This process usually occurs through referendums, which is when the government requires the population to vote an issue matter. - Example: One of the most popular referendums took place in the UK when the government asked the people to vote in favor or against the BREXIT (the exit of Britain from the European Union). ๐ช๐บ
- Representative democracy is a type of regime in which the people select officials to represent their own interests. There are mechanisms for accountability in representative democracies, such as impeachment and Recall Mechanisms (procedures that allow citizens to remove elected officials). โ
๐กRemember: the head of state is often times a ceremonial figure that represents the entire nation and is involved in international affairs. The head of government is in charge of the day-to-day tasks of a government and it holds executive powers.
๐ Characteristics of Authoritarian Regimes
- Limited political participation.
- Limited autonomy of society from state control.
- Limitations placed upon political opposition.
- Little political accountability or transparency.
- Rule by Law
Types of Authoritarian Regimes
Authoritarian regimes can include Illiberal Democracies/Hybrid Regimes, One-Party Systems, Theocracies, Totalitarian Governments, and Military Regimes.
You will need to know the difference between these regimes.
- Illiberal Democracy or Hybrid Regime is an authoritarian regime in which elections are held, but elected officials often use the electoral process to keep themselves in power.
- In other words it's an authoritarian regime where elements of "democracy" are present, but are conducted in undemocratic ways
- ==Think of Russia as Putin continues to consolidate more power==
- A One-Party System only allows one party to run for government office 1๏ธโฃ
- ==The CCP in China==
- Theocracies are governments in which religious leaders run the government. There is no separation or church and state ๐
- ==Iran==
- Totalitarian governments are regimes that seek to control nearly every aspect of public and private life ๐ต๏ธ
- Military regimes are authoritarian governments in which a military leader runs the government ๐๏ธ
So what about our countries of study?
UK ๐ฌ๐ง = Consolidated ๐๐พโโ๏ธ
Russia ๐ท๐บ = ๐, Illiberal or hybrid regime
Iran ๐ฎ๐ท = ๐, theocracy
Nigeria ๐ณ๐ฌ = ๐, military and more recently hybrid
Mexico ๐ฒ๐ฝ = ๐, hybrid
China ๐จ๐ณ = ๐, one-party system
โญ
==It is worth noting that Mexico and Nigeria are democratizing where as Russia is experiencing Democratic Backsliding==
Key Terms to Review (24)
Constitutional Limitations: Constitutional limitations refer to the restrictions placed on government power by a country's constitution. These limitations ensure that the government operates within certain boundaries and protects individual rights.
Direct democracies: Direct democracies are political systems where citizens participate directly in decision-making, rather than electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Federal democracies: Federal democracies are systems of government where power is divided between central authorities and regional or state governments. Both levels have their own areas of jurisdiction.
Free and Fair Elections: Free and fair elections refer to a democratic process where all eligible citizens have the right to vote without coercion or manipulation, and where the electoral system is transparent and impartial.
Hybrid Regime: A hybrid regime refers to a political system that displays characteristics of both democratic and authoritarian regimes. It combines elements of democracy, such as elections, with autocratic features like limited civil liberties and restricted political competition.
Illiberal Democracy: Illiberal democracy refers to a form of government where elections take place but there are significant restrictions on individual rights, limited checks on executive power, and weak rule-of-law institutions. It combines elements of both democracy and authoritarianism.
Impeachment: Impeachment is the process through which a high-ranking government official, such as a president or prime minister, is charged with wrongdoing and potentially removed from office. It involves formal accusations made by the legislative body against the accused official.
Independent judiciary: An independent judiciary refers to a branch of government that is separate from other branches (such as the executive) and has the authority to interpret laws impartially. It acts as a check on potential abuses of power by ensuring fair trials and upholding constitutional rights.
Military Regime: A military regime refers to a type of government that is controlled by military officials who have seized power through force. The military holds significant influence over political decision-making processes.
One-Party System: A one-party system is a political system where only one political party is legally allowed to exist and hold power. It suppresses opposition parties, limiting political competition and pluralism.
Parliamentary democracy: A parliamentary democracy is a form of government where the executive branch (head of government) is accountable to the legislative branch (parliament), and the head of state is separate from the head of government.
Political Accountability: Political accountability refers to the responsibility that elected officials have towards their constituents and the public at large. It includes being answerable for one's actions and decisions made while in office.
Political Regimes: Political regimes refer to the different systems of government that exist in a country, which determine how power is distributed and exercised. They can range from democratic regimes, where power is held by the people through elections, to authoritarian regimes, where power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or ruling party.
Political Opposition Limitations: Political opposition limitations refer to the restrictions placed on individuals or groups who oppose the ruling government. These limitations can include legal barriers, censorship, and intimidation tactics.
Presidential democracy: A presidential democracy is a form of government where the executive branch, headed by a president, is separate from the legislative branch. The president is elected by the people and holds significant powers.
Recall Mechanisms: Recall mechanisms refer to the procedures and processes that allow citizens to remove an elected official from office before their term is completed. It provides a way for voters to hold their representatives accountable if they are dissatisfied with their performance.
Referendums: Referendums are direct votes in which the entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal or decision.
Representative democracy: Representative democracy is a system of government where citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf.
Rule of Law: The rule of law refers to the principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced. It ensures that no one is above the law.
Single Political Party Rule: Single political party rule refers to a system of government where only one political party is legally allowed to hold power and govern the country. This means that other parties are either banned or heavily restricted in their activities.
Spectrum of Authoritarian and Democratic Regimes: The spectrum of authoritarian and democratic regimes represents the range of different types of governments that exist between fully authoritarian (dictatorship) and fully democratic systems. It illustrates how countries can fall at various points on this spectrum based on their level of citizen participation, civil liberties, and accountability.
Theocracy: A theocracy is a form of government where religious leaders hold both political power and authority. Laws are based on religious principles, and religious texts often serve as the foundation for governance.
Totalitarian Government: A totalitarian government is a system where one ruler or political party has complete control over all aspects of people's lives, including politics, economy, culture, and society.
Transparency in Decision Making: Transparency in decision making refers to the practice of making information, processes, and decisions accessible and visible to the public. It promotes accountability and helps prevent corruption.