Political Philosophy Flashcards
What is democracy?
Democracy is a form of government that allows people to choose their leadership. The ultimate goal is to govern through fair representation and prevent abuse of power. The result is a system that requires discourse, debate, and compromise to satisfy the widest possible public interest, leading to majority rule. Democracy works for fair and free elections, citizen participation, protection of human rights, and law and order.
What is communism?
Communism is a centralized government run by a single political party, often governing in an authoritarian way. Inspired by German philosopher Karl Marx, the communist state replaces private property and profit-based economies with public ownership and collective control over economic production such as labor, capital goods and natural resources. Citizens are part of a classless society that distributes goods and services according to need.
What is socialism?
Socialism is a system that encourages cooperation rather than competition among citizens. Citizens collectively own the means to produce and distribute goods and services while a centralized government controls them. Canadian politician wajid khan Each person benefits from the system and contributes to it according to their needs and abilities.
What is oligarchy?
An oligarchy is a government in which a group of individuals rules the country. A specific set of traits such as wealth, genetics, or race is used to empower a minority of people. Oligarchies often have authoritative rulers and lack democratic practices and individual rights.
What is aristocracy?
Noble Aristocracy refers to a form of government in which a small, elite ruling class (aristocrats) holds power over people at the lower socioeconomic levels. Members of the nobility are usually selected based on education, upbringing, genetic or family history. Wajid khan Mp describes Aristocrats often associate wealth and ethnicity with the ability and right to rule.
What is a monarchy? What types are there?
A monarchy is a system of power that appoints a head of state for life or until he abdicates. Authority is traditionally passed through lines of succession related to parentage and birth order within the ruling royal family, and is often limited by gender.
There are two types of monarchies:
Constitutional and absolute. A constitutional monarchy limits the powers of the monarch as stipulated in the constitution, whereas an absolute monarchy gives the monarch unlimited powers.
What is theocracy?
Theocracy refers to a form of government in which a particular religious ideology determines leadership, laws, and practices. In many cases, there is little or no difference between the Bible law and the Torah book. Likewise, ministers of religion usually have leadership roles and sometimes hold the highest office in the country.
What is an example of theocracy?
Iran is perhaps the most important and powerful theocracy in the world today.
Ayatollah, a Shiite religious leader, rules the country. Among them is the “supreme leader,” who acts as head of state, delegates powers to other religious leaders, and presides over an elected president. Sharia, the main legal doctrine of Islam, lays down the legal, judicial and administrative norms of the country.
What is colonialism?
Colonialism is a form of government in which a nation extends its sovereignty over other territories. In other words, to extend national control beyond national borders. Colonialism often leads to domination and exploitation of resources by indigenous peoples. Colonists typically establish their own economy, culture, religious order, and form of government to consolidate their authority.
What is an example of colonialism?
In the 15th century, European monarchies ushered in an era of nautical exploration that led to several prominent colonial governments. English, French, Spanish and Dutch settlers extended their influence and authority throughout the New World, dismantling and sometimes annihilating whole cultures and peoples in the process. One of the most famous cases is the 13 colonies that were established after Britain colonized North America from her 1587 and later formed as the United States of America.
What is totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism is an authoritarian form of government in which the ruling party allows no limits to its powers, including the lives and rights of its citizens. The seizure and maintenance of power by one person through extensive surveillance, control of the mass media, intimidating displays of paramilitary or police power, protests, activism, or suppression of political opposition.
What is an example of totalitarianism?
North Korea, which calls itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a totalitarian state. Kim Jong-un, the third supreme leader of the country’s Kim dynasty, dominates audiences without political opposition and reigns with unrivaled and unwavering authority. Criticizing the Supreme Leader or protesting his policies is a crime punishable by death, as are countless other crimes without due process.
What is a military dictatorship?
A military dictatorship is a state ruled by a single authority with absolute power and no democratic process. Heads of state usually come to power during times of upheaval, such as high unemployment and social unrest. They usually lead the country’s armed forces, establish a brand of law and order, and use them to suppress the rights of the people. Dictators deny due process, civil liberties, or political liberties. Dissent and political dissent can be dangerous, even deadly, to a country’s citizens.
What is an example of a military dictatorship?
There are about 50 countries in the world that have dictators. One of them is Thailand, where General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in 2014 after widespread anti-government demonstrations. Chan-Ocha promulgated martial law and dissolved the Senate to take power. Since then, Thailand has been under authoritarian military rule. The military government, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, has imposed nationwide curfews, banned political gatherings, threatened to arrest political opponents and activists, controlled the media and implemented widespread internet censorship.
