Exploring the Differences Between Liberal Democratic,...

Exploring the Differences Between Liberal Democratic, Authoritarian and Totalitarian Political Systems Defining political systems is a difficult thing to do as no single system is completely static, they often change dependant on things like war and trends in regimes, such as the recent insurgence in ‘liberal democracies’ means that the classifications of systems changes over time. The British Westminster system is considered to be a ‘liberal democracy’ however in the Second World War there were several powers exercised by the government which do not fit with this type of system for example control was exercised over the media and labour and elections were put off. These powers were only used as a†¦show more content†¦The citizens elect a representative who will act on their behalf. There is a constitution that regulates government, within the constitution the rights of the individual are defined, these rights are very important; as a result liberal democracies allow organised, voluntary groups, such as trade unions and pressure groups which can o perate independent of government. There is at least a degree of seperation of powers as a method of keeping the system in check with the constitution. Though liberal democracy is an attempt to allow the masses the opportunity to be decide on collective issues, by electing a representative to speak for them the emphasise placed on civil liberties makes this impractical: ‘the scope of democracy is limited by constitutional protection of individual rights, including freedom of assembly, property, religion and speech.’ Hague (2004: 35) The current system in the UK is a liberal democracy. Authoritarianism is the traditional system of most societies and still exists in many today. Authoritarian states are non-democratic; they either have a single ruler or a single political party in power. They work on a system of power ’from above’; public opinion is not taken into consideration. Individual liberty is considered to be less important than the authority of the ruler. The public are not allowed to participate inShow MoreRelatedEssay about Religious Challenges to Constructing a Democratic Iraq3427 Words   |  14 PagesReligious Challenges to Constructing a Democratic Iraq Table of Contents Abstract 3 The challenge of establishing a democracy in Iraq 3 History of Iraq 3 History of Islam 4 Tenets of Islam 6 History of democracy 7 Christianity and democracy 8 Tenets of democracy 9 Islamic thought vs. the keystones of a democracy 10 Can democracy take hold in an Islamic Iraq? 10 Conclusion 11 References 13 Abstract IslamRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesDavid M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral SocietiesRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pages10020. Copyright  © 2012 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Previous editions  © 2009, 2006, and 2003. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and printRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesfor getting to grips with the field of organization theory. Dr Martin Brigham, Lancaster University, UK McAuley et al. provide a highly readable account of ideas, perspectives and practices of organization. By thoroughly explaining, analyzing and exploring organization theory the book increases the understandin g of a field that in recent years has become ever more fragmented. Organization theory is central to managing, organizing and reflecting on both formal and informal structures, and in this respectRead MoreFor Against by L.G. Alexander31987 Words   |  128 PagesWNGMANGROUP UK UMITED Longman House, Burnt Mill, Harlow, Essex CM20 2iE, England and Associated Companies throughout the world  © Longman Group Ltd. 1968 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers. First published /968 Eighteenth impression /986 ISBN 0-582-52306-0 Produced