Diplomacy & Politics Glossary

An authoritarian regime concentrates power in a single leader or party with limited political freedoms.

A governing system characterized by concentrated power, limited political freedoms, and minimal political pluralism.

Civil society comprises organizations and groups outside government that influence public policy and community life.

The study and comparison of different forms of authoritarian regimes to understand their structures and behaviors.

A hybrid regime with formal democratic institutions but unfair advantages for incumbents.

A political system that appears democratic but operates with authoritarian controls and limited political freedoms in practice.

The French constitutional system established to strengthen executive power and stabilize governance.

The gradual weakening of democratic institutions and norms, often leading to reduced political freedoms and accountability without immediate regime change.

The transfer of political power from a central government to regional or local governments within a state.

A form of federalism where state and national governments operate independently in their own areas of policy and law enforcement.

A dual mandate occurs when an elected official holds two political offices simultaneously, potentially creating conflicts of interest.

A situation where the executive and legislative branches cannot agree, leading to a standstill in policy making or governance.

Federalism divides power between a central government and subnational units, allowing shared governance.

A system where the executive and legislative branches are interconnected, typical in parliamentary systems.

A governing system with elections but limited civil liberties and weakened rule of law.

A system where citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions on their behalf rather than voting on laws directly.

Majoritarian democracy prioritizes the will of the majority in decision-making, often at the expense of minority protections.

A government system where executive power is divided between a directly elected president and a prime minister accountable to the legislature.

A group of opposition party members who scrutinize and offer alternative policies to the government ministers.

A political system characterized by centralized control, repression, and cult of personality under Stalin’s rule.