1.3 Democracy vs. Authoritarianism

Democratic Regime

Based on the will of the people

Authoritatiran Regime

Based on decisions made by political elites without much input from citizens and may include illiberal democracies or hybrid regimes, one-party states, theocracies, totalitarian governments, and military regimes

Civil RIghts

Protection of groups of citizens from discrimination by the government or other individuals

Civil Liberties

Individual’s protection against abuse of powers by the government

Transparency

Ability of citizens to access information about a government's policy making and policy implementation to help hold officials accountableF

Free and fair elections

Allow competition so that an opposition candidate and party can defeat the ruling candidate and party

Rule of law

The principle that a state should be governed by law and not arbitrary decisions made by individual government officials

Independence of Governmental Branches

Prevents any one branch from controlling all governmental power

Separation of Powers

Independence of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Checks and Balance

System that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful

Illiberal Democracies/Hybrid Regimes

States that hold elections with little competition toward the ruling party and that tend to have diminished civil liberties

One-party states

States in which rival parties are prohibited from controlling governmental power

Theocracies

States that require it to be controlled by leaders of a particular religion

Totalitarian Governments

States that severely limit citizens’ rights to movement and free choice of employment (extreme authoritarianism)

Military Regimes

When military leaders hold top positions of governing authority (prone to coup de tats)