CM

APCG country notes

United Kingdom (UK)

Regime Type

  • Liberal democracy

  • Constitutional monarchy

  • Unitary state with devolved powers

Political System

  • Parliamentary democracy

  • Head of State: Monarch (King Charles III)

  • Head of Government: Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak as of 2024)

Key Institutions

  • Parliament: Bicameral (House of Commons + House of Lords)

    • House of Commons: elected, FPTP system

    • House of Lords: appointed, limited powers

  • Prime Minister: Leader of majority party in Commons, sets policy agenda

  • Cabinet: Ministers appointed by PM, drawn from Commons or Lords

  • Judiciary: Independent; Supreme Court established in 2009

Political Parties

  • Conservative Party (center-right)

  • Labour Party (center-left)

  • Liberal Democrats, SNP (Scotland), others

Key Concepts

  • Brexit: UK's exit from EU in 2020, issues of sovereignty

  • Devolution: Powers granted to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

  • Austerity: Conservative-led budget cuts post-2008

Russia

Regime Type

  • Authoritarian

  • Federal state

  • Semi-presidential system

Political System

  • President: Vladimir Putin

    • Dominant power; appoints PM, influences judiciary

  • Prime Minister: Subordinate to president

  • Federal Assembly:

    • State Duma: lower house, limited real power

    • Federation Council: upper house, appointed

  • Judiciary: Lacks independence

Political Parties

  • United Russia (pro-Putin, dominant)

  • Weak opposition: Communist Party, A Just Russia

Key Concepts

  • Power vertical: Centralized control from presidency

  • Siloviki: Security elites influencing policy

  • State corporatism: State control over civil society and economy

  • Managed elections: Not free or fair

China

Regime Type

  • One-party authoritarian state

  • Unitary system

Political System

  • Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dominates all institutions

  • President/General Secretary: Xi Jinping

  • Premier: Head of government (Li Qiang as of 2024)

  • National People’s Congress (NPC): Rubber-stamp legislature

Political Structure

  • Politburo & Standing Committee: Most powerful CCP bodies

  • No independent judiciary

  • No direct national elections

Key Concepts

  • Social credit system

  • Censorship and surveillance

  • Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Global infrastructure strategy

  • State capitalism: Market economy with state-owned enterprises (SOEs)

Iran

Regime Type

  • Theocratic-authoritarian hybrid

  • Unitary system

Political System

  • Supreme Leader: Ali Khamenei (most powerful)

  • President: Ebrahim Raisi (limited power)

  • Majles: Elected legislature

  • Guardian Council: Vetting power, half appointed by Supreme Leader

  • Assembly of Experts: Can choose/remove Supreme Leader

  • Revolutionary Guard: Powerful military and economic force

Political Structure

  • Dual sovereignty: Elected vs. unelected institutions

  • Judiciary: Based on Sharia law

Key Concepts

  • Islamic Republic: Combines religion and republicanism

  • Sanctions and nuclear negotiations

  • State control over media and civil society

Nigeria

Regime Type

  • Transitional democracy (hybrid regime)

  • Federal republic

Political System

  • President: Head of state and government

  • National Assembly: Bicameral (Senate and House of Reps)

  • Judiciary: Constitutionally independent but politically weak

  • Federalism: 36 states with significant autonomy

Political Parties

  • All Progressives Congress (APC)

  • People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Key Concepts

  • Ethnic and religious cleavages: North (Muslim), South (Christian)

  • Federal Character Principle: Promotes inclusivity in appointments

  • Resource curse: Oil dependency and corruption

  • Boko Haram: Terrorist group in the northeast

  • Civil society: Growing but under pressure

Mexico

Regime Type

  • Presidential democracy

  • Federal republic

Political System

  • President: Head of state and government (AMLO as of 2024)

  • Congress: Bicameral (Senate and Chamber of Deputies)

  • Judiciary: Formally independent; still undergoing reform

Political Parties

  • MORENA (left-wing, AMLO)

  • PRI: Former dominant party

  • PAN, PRD: Key opposition parties

Key Concepts

  • Transition to democracy: End of PRI dominance in 2000

  • Electoral reforms: Independent electoral commission (INE)

  • Decentralization: State governors with real power

  • Cartel violence and corruption: Undermines rule of law

  • Clientelism and patronage: Still present in some areas