Political systems and ideologies

Definition of Concepts

Political system: It is the structure of a government, recognised by the community that formally distributes power.
Ideology: It is a system of ideas and ideals that form the basis of policy-making and interpretation of political social reality.
Democracy: A system where power is vested in people who can elect representatives.
Authoritarianism: A system where power is concentrated in a leader or leaders with little accountability to the people.
Socialism: A political ideology advocating for equal distribution of wealth and the community control over means of production.

Presidential system: The President is both the head of state and the head of government, separate from the legislature.
Parliamentary system: The head of government is selected from the legislative branch, and the executive and legislative branches are intertwined.
Hybrid system: A mix of both presidential and parliamentary systems; the President executes laws which the Parliament makes.

Liberalism: Advocates for individual rights, freedom, and equal opportunity. Favours laws and regulations to correct social inequalities.
Conservatism: Stresses tradition, limited government, and personal freedom. Believes market forces and individual efforts correct social inequalities.
Socialism: Supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice. Advocates for a public or cooperative ownership of the means of production.
Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic ideology, often led by a dictatorial leader, forcibly suppressing opposition.

Decisions made under a certain political system or ideology impact social values, human rights, economic stability, and foreign relationships.
The way the power is distributed within a political system influences the respect for rule of law and accountability.
Ideologies influence policymaking, particularly in areas like welfare, healthcare, education, and economics.

Democracies, unlike authoritarian regimes, value individual rights and public participation in governance.
Liberalism and conservatism differ significantly in their approach to social justice and the role of government in society.
While socialism seeks equity through active redistribution of resources, conservatism relies on the marketplace.
Presidential and parliamentary systems manage the separation of powers differently, impacting the checks and balances in play.

In democratic systems, citizens have the role of participating in elections, advocacy, protest, and political discourse.
Citizens in all political systems and under all ideologies have a right and responsibility to hold leaders accountable, through peaceful means.

Revolutions, economic crises, social movements, and technological innovations can disrupt existing political systems and give rise to new ideologies.
Change can be gradual, through reforms and shifts in public opinion, or sudden, through events like coups or populist uprisings.

Globalisation vs nationalism: The push for global integration and cooperation sits in tension with surges in nationalistic sentiment and policy.
Freedom vs security: Balancing individual rights with collective safety is a perennial challenge for political systems.
Individualism vs collectivism: This debate is at the heart of different ideological approaches to wealth distribution and social responsibility.