Chapter 7
Democracy
&
Autocracy
Types of Regimes


1.
2.
Regime: general form of govt. of a state, including
the constitution and rules of govt.
Types
Democracy
Autocracy
Democracy
 A regime in which all eligible voters may vote to
choose their government who make state policies
 Activity level of population varies from state to state
 Govt. of the people
Democracy
 With end of communism in 1989, the “third wave” or
expansion of democracy began to take place
 Many of the recent world shifts to democracy were
sudden and surprising
Democracies
 More affluent than countries that are not
democracies
 Possible reason is that democracies foster economic
growth
 However, affluence is only one possible reason for
democracy. Freedom another.
Autocracy
 A regime in which those who have power did not get
it by any regular constitutional process and are not
responsible in their exercise of this power to any
formal set of rules
 Vary politically
Military Regime
 Form of autocracy
 When a group of military officers use their troops to
take over the government (this process is called a
coup)
 Issues of legitimacy can contribute to the fact that
there are not more military regimes
One-Party States
 Often in autocracy
 One major party to run/hold office
 Government recognizes and is run by this one party
Other Autocracies
 Monarchy: state ruled by King/Queen
 Theocracy: state ruled by religious leaders
 Consider the theme of the book: Power & Choice.
Which regime is better?