BASIC POLITICAL SYSTEM

Basic Political System

Meaning of political system, Aristotle’s classification of political system      

• Theocratic
•  Monarchical
•   Democratic
• Totalitarian system

And their relative merits and demerits

Meaning of political system

Political system is governance which organize political activity; they are of two types like formal and informal activity. The formal activities are election, execution, distribution of power in legislative, executive and judiciary, organization of political representation, accountability structure. And informal activities are norms and values, rules and regulation of political parties, conventions, grassroots mobilization, pressure groups and informal group. Political system is a form of governance or state, they consists of all groups, all political activities in a dynamic of a government.

Classification of political system

Aristotle classifies the political system into three

•          Monarchy
•          Aristocracy
•          Democracy

Criteria to classify the political system

       The number of people entitled to rule whether one or few or many
       Whether rulers took care of the common good or good of the few. 
Four basic system of politics

1.          Monarchy
2.          Totalitarianism/dictatorship
3.          Theocratic
4.          Democratic

MONARCHY

It is a form of government which is vested in the hands of an one individual. The monarch is all powerful and he is considering as all in all. Historically it evolves from tribal kingship that had a sacral. By middle age people shifted to parliamentary form of democracy where elder advise the government. In 1990 the  all monarchy disappeared and the parliamentary government came to exist. There are 44 countries who have different form of monarchy and 16 commonwealth realms who accept to Queen Elizabeth on the head of the country.

Types of monarchy

      Absolute monarch: The most of the ancient monarch were absolute in where the power and authority was on the hand of the monarch. Absolutism is a philosophy in which the social. Economic and political power controlled over those power and authority. It is an individual who rules also he rules like autocrat, having absolute power in hand.

2    Constitutional monarch: It is the monarch where the rule and regulation is framed in the constitution and the monarchs become the nominal head and he became the unity for the country. Some constitutional monarch has limited power. The monarch can give pardon,, honors  and all high authority command and enjoy the fullest in the position.

3    Elected monarch: Japan, Malaysia, Vatican City are the place where Elected monarch are found. The monarch is elected by some elder colleagues or Electoral College.

Characteristic of Monarch

1. Ø Associated with hereditary rules in which monarchy is appointed for life and after his death the next son or daughter can become the head of state.
2. Ø  Monarch is born usually in royal family.
3. Ø  Power and authority are absolute. No one can rise voice against monarch.
4. Ø  Most of the monarch govern/ run the country with the help of army.
5. Ø  The fate of the country is design by the character of the monarch.
6. Ø  It is an individual centered government.

Advantage of Monarch

1. Ø  Clarity with regards to the locus power.
2. Ø  Struggle for power.
3. Ø  Cultural and historical heritage is maintained.
4. Ø  Monarch is a political figures.

Demerits of Monarch

1. Ø  A despotic and destructive
2. Ø  King being head of the state people has no say on him in the selection of monarch.
3. Ø  No same intelligent/ slow to adapt to changing situations.

TOTALITARIANISM/ DICTATORSHIP

The total power is vested in the hand of one individual or group of individuals. State is regarded as absolute, omnipotent and infallible. Government undertakes press, legal system, media etc. Totalitarian government regime has his own ideology and indoctrination, the government is led by a group of leader.

Definition of Dictatorship

F. Numman defines by totalitarianism means rules of a person or a group who arrogate to themselves and monopolized power in the state, exercise it without restrain. The totalitarian state like fascist government of Mussolini, Nazi government of Hitler, communist government of Stalin and military government of Pre Musharraf.

Characteristic of Dictatorship

• 1      Leader is a dynamic and charismatic power: in dictatorship government the leader play unique role in whole aspect of life like social, economic, political etc.
• 2      Totalitarian regime, there should be ideology which gives more clarity and power articulation about well being of the people, economic prosperity and social equality.
• 3      It is a just one party government which led by one man who has sole authority.
• 4      Every opposition is silent
• 5      Change of mild government is impossible
• 6       Government has complete control over the media
• 7      Judiciary subservient to the government.

Advantage of Dictatorship

• Ø  Dictatorship is very strong and efficient. They can achieve anything like unity and manage the crises well.
• Ø  Progress is possible in a short period
• Ø  Relay on military power.
• Ø   Tax evasion and corruption easily discipline them.

Disadvantage of Dictatorship

• Ø  Removal of freedom
• Ø  Absence of transparent in government
• Ø  Government imposed rule and regulation on the public forcefully
• Ø  Take away the respect and dignity of the individual
• Ø  State government is glorified and individual are asked to sacrifice for the state,
• Ø  World peace in war or battle.

THEOCRATIC

The Greek word ‘theo’ means ‘God’ and ‘kratia’ means ‘rule’. Therefore the theocratic etymology is ‘rule of God’. The theocratic government is guided by clerks or clergy. It is founded on religious beliefs system. The word theocratic came to existence in 100 ad. The theocrat or ruler are consider as ‘Emissaries of God’. The government especially governed by the laws rules and declaration by the religion.

Characteristics of theocratic

·         Founded on religious beliefs and teaching

·         Authority of the leader has divine approval/sactions

·         Leader are governed by divine inspiratiions

·         Rulers of the statement clerics

·         Freedom of speech and tolerance for opposing views will be very limited

·         Freedom for the practice of other religious is very limited

·         Individual rights are understood and interpreted

·         Rights of women are governed by religious texts

Advantage of Theocratic

•         King is the representative of God. Therefore obedience and loyalty will be very high.
•          Laws of the land, founded on the sacred scriptures
•          The focus of government will be on purity and modernity
•          Theocracy gives greater sense of unity and coercion

Disadvantage of Theocratic

·         There is limited freedom

·         No tolerance

·         Laws of the country is not founded on justice, equality and fairness

·         Restricts women’s freedom

·         Punishments are brutal and restricts the people’s freedom

·         Birth of rationality we find group fighting and ethical challenge.

DEMOCRACY

Democracy is a form of government where we find decision making body and allocating the resources. Government is for everybody, everything is free and fair having three important body executive, legislative and judiciary.

Meaning of Democracy

Demos mean people and Kratia means power or rule. Putting together demos and kratia it is the people of rule. It also means the democracy as power with the people.

Definition of Democracy

Abraham Litchhon defines ‘Democracy is governance of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Types of Democracy

1.  Direct democracy in which the people are involved in the process of policy making and other political activities. They are present directly to the government.
2.  Indirect/ representative democracy is a form of government where the people are represented by the elected members of both the house who makes the policy on behalf the people.

Principles of the Democracy

·         Citizen participation: it is the right and duty of the citizen to participate and express their own view in politics, certain issues, policy making, election etc. participation includes like election, vote in assembly or certain bills, debates and discussion, working with pressure groups, social movements and paying taxes.

·         Equality: all people are equal before the law though we find diverse in many field like culture, race, religion, linguistic, ethics, caste, sex and gender. It is the duty of the government to provide equal opportunity and treat them equally according to their qualification.

·         Political tolerance: diversity, majority and minority which tolerate the political event and equality to everyone on the ground of thinking where they can voice opinion and opposition must be accepted/respected.

·         Regular, free and fair election: in the election process there should not be bias or prejudice. There should be fair and free election processes.

·         Economic freedom: private property owning and ownership, freedom to the market, they can choose their own work; they have right trade union and decontrolled of economy.

·     Accountability: it is vital role to the people as well as to the government like answerable to the people, responsible to their action, power with responsibility and performance of duties.

·         Control and abuse of power: abuse and misuse of power, free and independent judiciary, free press and election.

·        Human rights: all democracy try to protect basic fundamental human rights, right to speak, to protect and propagate faith, right to assemble, to have educational institutions, equality is the main focus of the human rights and protecting the citizens.

Advantage of Democracy

•         Listen to the view of the people like civil rights groups, intellectuals
•       Democracy safeguard/protects the rights and property of the individual irrespective of origin rich or poor
•          Democracy treats equally to everyone
•          Gives equal opportunity
•          Peaceful change of power- it is possible only through free and fair election
•          It provides criticism and can debate and discuss issues and have space to view their opinion
•          In democracy people are the supreme rulers. The leaders are the elected representative
•          People have the rights to participate in the governance which may be directly or indirectly.

  Disadvantage of Democracy

•         Democracy is the rule of the majority. They can suppress the minority and their views/ opinions
•          Democracy is slow and time consuming which is difficult to have proper decision.
•         Dishonest and unscrupulous derail
•         Democracy gives more importance to quantity than to quality
•         Democracy gives more important to equal in an unequal society
•         In a multi-party system, political game is played.
•     Political parties are the representatives of the people who mislead and serve themselves according to their own interest.
•          Money play an important role like purchase of vote, M.P, MLA, force and influence people to change the opinion and press.