AP Comp Gov 5

Authoritarian Regime

A political system in which power is concentrated in a small group and citizens cannot freely replace the government.

Totalitarianism

A system in which the government seeks to control all aspects of political, social, cultural, and private life.

Coercion

The use of force or surveillance to make people obey the government.

Civil Society

Independent, non-governmental groups through which people express their interests and organize collective action.

Cooptation

A strategy in which the government gives benefits to individuals or groups to prevent them from opposing the regime.

State Corporatism

A system in which the state controls which interest groups can participate in policymaking.

Pluralism

A system in which independent groups freely compete to influence government policies.

Patron-Clientelism

A political relationship in which powerful leaders provide jobs or benefits in exchange for loyalty and support.

Corruption

The abuse of public authority for personal gain.

Personality Cult

The promotion of a political leader as a powerful national symbol to strengthen the regime's legitimacy.

Personal Rule

A form of authoritarian rule in which political power is concentrated in one leader with few institutional limits.

Military Rule

A form of authoritarian rule in which the military takes control of the government through a coup and governs directly.

One-Party Rule

A political system in which one political party legally or practically dominates government power.

Illiberal Democracy

A political system that holds elections but provides weak protection for civil liberties and fair political competition.

Theocracy

A political system in which religious authorities govern and laws are based on religious doctrines.