Types of government

Why governments differ

Every country has its own history, culture and hopes, so governments differ and change over time. Four questions help compare them. Where does the government’s authority come from? How is it formed? What are its parts and what does each do? And what is it working for? Democracy, monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy give different answers to each.

Democracy in brief

In a democracy the people are the source of power: they choose representatives, usually through elections, and the government must answer to them. Its rules are usually set down in a constitution, and the legislature, executive and judiciary are often separate. Democracies can be direct or representative, parliamentary or presidential, and the details are in parliamentary and presidential democracy.

Monarchy, then and now

The mahajanapadas of ancient India were headed by kings guided by the sabha or samiti, and even great emperors relied on councils of ministers and officials, often seeking scholars’ advice on dharma. In some parts of the world kings held all power and claimed it came from God, but in much of India the raja was expected to rule within rajadharma, for the welfare of all. In the Mahabharata, Bhishma teaches Yudhishthira that a raja must put his people first, apply the law fairly and remember that power is temporary. Today a monarchy is rule by a hereditary king or queen. In an absolute monarchy, like Saudi Arabia, the monarch makes and enforces the laws and judges disputes. In a constitutional monarchy, like the United Kingdom, the monarch’s power is only nominal and an elected parliament and prime minister govern.

Theocracy, dictatorship and oligarchy

A theocracy is ruled by religious rules and leaders. Iran mixes theocracy with democracy: a Supreme Leader, chosen for life by a group of Islamic clerics, has the final say over all three branches, while an elected president and parliament run daily affairs. Afghanistan and Vatican City are other theocracies. In a dictatorship, one person or a small group holds power without any limit from a constitution or law. Adolf Hitler, made Chancellor of Germany in 1933, gave himself full power, caused the deaths of at least six million Jews in the Holocaust and of hundreds of thousands of Roma and others, and started World War II; Idi Amin killed thousands in Uganda and drove out many people of Indian origin. In an oligarchy, from Greek words meaning ‘few’ and ‘rule’, a small, usually wealthy group makes the big decisions.

Life without a say

The chapter tells of Shane, who lives in North Korea. He must serve in the army for as long as the government decides, follow rules on his haircut and clothes, live without the global internet and report anyone who breaks the rules. When a tourist asked why everyone had the same haircut, he replied that people would like new styles but the government decides. Such control over daily life shows what it means to live without democracy.

Why it matters

Knowing the types of government helps us see how much our everyday freedoms depend on how our country is governed. Why democracy is valued, and what threatens it, is in why democracy matters. Answers to every question are in the NCERT solutions for Chapter 9; see also the full Chapter 9 notes.