The political regime is characterized by a combination of means and methods of exercising political power in the state. There are three key types of political regimes - authoritarian, democratic and totalitarian.
Instruction manual
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According to political scientists, the most widespread political regime in the world is authoritarian. It is believed that under this political regime, a large part of the world's population lives. Examples of authoritarian states are Iran, Morocco, Libya, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and some post-Soviet countries. It is a question of the practical realization of power, whereas at the legislative level these states can theoretically be democratic.
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An authoritarian state has a number of features that distinguish them from other political regimes. It occupies an intermediate position between democracy and totalitarianism. He is close to democracy, because preserves economic freedoms, with totalitarianism - the unlimited nature of power.
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One sign of an authoritarian regime is the limited number of powerholders. It can be concentrated in the hands of one person, or belong to a narrow group of individuals (military, oligarchs, etc.). Power is unlimited and not controlled by citizens. Power is based on laws, but civic initiatives are not taken into account when they are passed. Moreover, the principles of the rule of law and the equality of all before the laws remain only on paper.
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Under authoritarianism, the principle of a real separation of powers is not implemented and the independence of the judiciary is not ensured. The power is centralized, and local representative bodies do not in reality fulfill their functions.
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An authoritarian political regime can enjoy broad popular support. He even admits the presence of opposition and competition, but they are usually controlled by the authorities. It can even itself initiate the creation of opposition parties in order to create external compliance with the democratic regime. The real opposition has practically no access to the distribution of political resources and is being squeezed out of political life in every way. Under authoritarianism, the government does not necessarily resort to repression, but it always has the ability to force citizens to obey its will. Often authoritarian regimes are formed with a passive social base.
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Despite the fact that the authorities strive to ensure total control over the political sphere of society, it has minimal impact on the economy. Thus, authoritarianism can easily get along with a market economy. The cultural sphere remains relatively independent, civil society institutions may function, but they remain limited and have no political weight.
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Elections in such societies are decorative and serve as a means of legitimizing the political regime. Often they have a high level of political participation, and the percentage of support for the desired candidate or party is close to 100%. The electoral struggle does not ensure the recruitment of elites, and their appointment is made from above.
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The advantages of authoritarian regimes are attributed to the ability to ensure political stability and order in societies. They are highly effective in transition societies. Their common drawback is the lack of control of power by the people, which can lead to an increase in social tension.
