Welcome to the Presentation
Forms of Government
Mohammad Alauddin
MSS in Government and Politics
MPA in Governance and Public Policy
Deputy Secretary
mohammad_alauddin@yahoo.com
CSC Dhaka February 14, 2010
1
Introduction
Governments vary widely in the nature of
their organization, in the extent of the
authority that they exercise, in the relations
among their various organs and in many
other ways. For purposes of classification
the essential problem is to find the
fundamental bases of distinction that will
be, from the political point of view,
scientific in nature and of practical value.
2
Forms Of Government
Aristotle's classification of states is based on two principles:
(i) the number of persons who exercises supreme power and
(ii) the ends they seek to serve self interest or benefit of the
community.
Aristotle’s classification is given in the following table.
Normal
Perverted
Rule by one
Monarchy
Tyranny
Rule by a few
Aristocracy
Oligarchy
Rule by many
Polity
Democracy
3
Forms Of Government
Modern Governments
Despotic
Democratic
Limited Monarchy
Unitary
Republic
Federal
Parliamentary
Parliamentary
Unitary
Non Parliamentary
Non-Parliamentary
Parliamentary
Federal
Non Parliamentary
Parliamentary
Non-Parliamentary
4
Monarchy
Monarchy represents that form of
government where the source of all political
authority is to be found in a supreme ruler.
The Monarch enjoys a life-long tenure and
the office passes to his heirs according to the
law of primogeniture. The institution of
Monarchy is the product of history and this
was popular till the nineteenth century.
5
Monarchy
Monarchy may be of two types:
Absolute Monarchy
Absolute Monarchy has existed both in the East
and in the West up to very recent times .In the
East, the leading example of a government of this
character was that of Japan. In the West, the most
important examples of governments resting on an
absolute basis were those of Russia before the
Revolution of 1947, and Germany immediately
before the adoption of the Weimar Constitution of
1919.
6
Monarchy
Limited Monarchy
Limited Monarchy is that type of
government in which the authority of the
Monarch is limited either by the
prescriptions of a written constitution or by
certain fundamental conventions as in
Britain.
7
Aristocracy
Aristocracy is that form of government which is
conducted by a small section of society. They are
the best men of the community and they are
prompted by the most virtuous principles. Aristos,
in Greek, means the best and kratos means power.
Aristocracy, therefore, according to Greek
philosophers, was a form of government par
excellence. Many writers, from Plato and Aristotle
down believed that aristocracy was the best form
of government, provided that the ruling class was
composed of those most competent to govern and
that they exercised their power for the good of all
and not for their own self interests.
8
Merits of Aristocracy
One of the great merits of aristocracy is that it
emphasizes quality and not quantity. It assumes
that some are better fitted than others to govern
than others.
 Aristocracy can claim superiority over other forms
of government in respect of stability and efficiency,
and thus, can maintain consistent and vigorous
policy both in domestic and foreign affairs.
 Aristocracy is a reservoir which conserves
experience and transmits wisdom to the present as
well as future.

9
Demerits of Aristocracy
 The
weakness of aristocracy lies in the
difficulty of fixing a sound and just principle
for the selection of the group or class that is to
exercise political power and of securing
adequate guarantees that the group in power
will not use their authority for the furtherance
of their own interests rather than for the general
good.
 All aristocracies tend to be narrow and
exclusive, to develop arrogance and class pride,
and to be conservative to the extent of retarding
progress.
10
Democracy
The term democracy is derived from the Greek
words, ‘demos’ and ‘kratos’, the former meaning
the people and the latter power. Democracy, thus ,
means power of the people. It is now regarded as a
form of government in which the people rule
themselves, either directly or indirectly through
their representatives. Definitions of democracy as
a form of government, are various.
11
Democracy
Democracy, according to Greeks, is the
government in which people rule over themselves.
In the words of President Abraham Lincoln, “it is
a government of the people, by the people and for
the people”. According to Lord Brice,
“Democracy is that form of government in which
the ruling power of a state is legally vested, not in
any particular class or classes but in the members
of a community as a whole”. Prof. Seeley says,
“Democracy is a government in which everybody
has a share”.
12
Democracy
There are two types of democracy: (1)Pure or
Direct and (2) Indirect or Representative.
A form of democracy in which all members of a
political community participate directly in the
decision making process is called pure or direct
democracy. Direct democracy was established in
ancient Greek city states. Today when large and
complex societies have emerged and when area of
the state is very extensive, direct democracy is
impracticable.
13
Democracy
In representative or indirect democracies citizens
elect representatives who then govern, and popular
participation is limited primarily to voting in local
and national elections. The people exercise
minimal, if in fact any, political power and ‘real’
political power is confined to elected political
activists and elites. In representative democracies
political freedom and participation tends to be
measured in terms of individual freedoms, civil
liberties and political rights.
14
Democracy
These include freedom of association, movement,
speech, speech, information voting rights and freedom
of conscience. There are considerable limits to the
levels of political participation and direct involvement
of the people in representative democracies. Thus,
minimal definition of present-day democracy as a
political system may be one which states that a
political system is democratic if the entire adult
population have the opportunity to participate in
decision-making in that society, and to enjoy legal,
political and civil protection of individual rights and
freedoms.
15
Democracy
Allen Ball has identified the following features of
democratic system:




There is more than one political party competing for
political power.
The competition for power is open, not secretive and is
based on established and accepted forms of procedure.
Entry and recruitment to positions of political power
are relatively open.
There are periodic elections based on universal
franchise.
16
Democracy
Pressure groups are able to operate to influence
government
decisions. Associations such as trade
unions and other voluntary organizations are not
subject to close governmental control.
 Civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion,
freedom from arbitrary arrest, are recognized and
protected within the political system. This assumes
that there is substantial amount of independence and
freedom from government control of the mass media.
 There is some form of separation of powers, i.e., a
representative assembly has some form of control
over the executive and judiciary is independent both
executive and legislature.

17
Democracy
G. Bingham Powell, Jr. observes that a democratic
government to be called democratic must meet the
following basic requirements:
 legitimacy of the government is based on the
assertion that it represents the will of its citizens
(consent),
 the basis of this legitimacy is arrived at through
competitive political elections with a minimum
requirement of at least two political parties
(elections),
18
Democracy



most of the people attaining a certain age can
participate in the elections both as a voter as
well as candidate (contesting elections),
voting is free and secret (free voting), and
citizens and political leaders have the basic
freedom of speech, press, assembly and
organization (fundamental and civic rights).
19
Merits of Democracy









It pays special attention to the interests of common
man.
It is based on equality.
It is the greater upholder of the lofty ideals of liberty
and fraternity.
It is based on public opinion.
It minimizes the chances of revolution.
It gives political education to the people.
It raises the moral slandered of the people.
It promotes patriotism and national unity and creates
the interest of the people in administration.
It is most suitable social, economic, political and
religious reforms.
20
Demerits of Democracy









Democracy is the rule of incompetent persons.
Democracy gives more importance to the quantity
rather than to quality.
In democracy administration is very costly.
Capitalists exercise a dominant influence upon
democracy.
In the democracy there is the rule of majority
which become unjust sometimes.
Political
parties
spoil
the
harmonious
atmosphere and corruption becomes rampant.
Sometimes the government is not stable in a
democracy.
Local conflicts are predominant in democracy which
harm national interests.
It proves weak in times of war and crisis.
21
Democracy
Democracy, no doubt, has its own defects,
but no government is a panacea for all
human ills. This is better than other forms
of governments. John Stuart Mill says,
“After giving full weight to all that
appeared to me well grounded in the
arguments
against
democracy.
I
unhesitatingly decided in its favor”.
22
Dictatorship
Dictatorship refers to government by one ruler.
Usually associated with arbitrary rule, dictators
may be constitutionally appointed. Under the
ancient Roman Republic a dictator could be
appointed by the senate and the popular assembly
in a national emergency; but only for six months.
Modern
dictatorships
are
of
dubious
constitutionality. According to Ford, “Dictatorship
is the assumption of extra-legal authority by the
head of the state”.
23
Dictatorship
Alfred says “Dictatorship is the government of
one man who has not obtained his position by
inherence but either by force or consent, and
normally by a combination of both. He must
possess absolute sovereignty. All political powers
must ultimately emanate from his will and it must
be unlimited in scope. It must be exercised more
or less frequently in an arbitrary manner by
decree rather than by law”. Finally, it must not be
incompatible with absolute rule.
24
Dictatorship
From Alfred Cobon’s analysis it is revealed that
main features of dictatorship are :
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
This is one man’s rule;
This is based on force or consent or a mixture of
both;
The dictator is not responsible to any other authority
His powers are unlimited;
The dictator runs the administration authoritatively
and not according to law; and
His tenure is not fixed.
25
Dictatorship
Between 1919 and 1939 there was great reaction
against democracy in many countries and
dictatorship was established in many countries of
the world. In Turkey, Kamal Pasa, established his
dictatorship in 1921and he remained in power till
death in 1939.
Benito Mussolini abolished
democracy in Italy in 1922 and became a dictator.
In 1933, Adolf Hitler established his dictatorship
in Germany and he remained in power till 1944.
26
Dictatorship
Lenin established the dictatorship of Communist
Party in Russia after the revolution of 1917. After
the Second World War, China, Yugoslavia,
Bulgaria,
Rumania,
Hungary,
Poland
Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Finland and
Lithuania (Eastern Europe) also established the
dictatorship of the Communist Party but now most
of the countries have opted for democracy. At
present, in South Asia we see military dictatorship
in Burma.
27
Causes of the Rise of Dictatorship
Outbreak of the First World War
The First World War broke out in 1914. In
order to conduct the war successfully even
in democratic countries, the executive
captured all the powers of the government
and Parliament were pushed aside. There
was no regard for the freedom and rights of
the people. As such, democracy received a
severe setback.
28
Causes of the Rise of Dictatorship
The treaty of Versailles of 1919 was based upon
injustice.
According to this treaty (Paris Pact), Germany was
bifurcated into two parts and they were handed
over to France, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Poland
and League of Nations. Besides, a sum of 6600
million was imposed as War-Indemnity on
Germany. This compelled the people of Germany
to think that only a strong government could bring
about unification of the country and payment
reparation could be avoided. Thus Hitler assumed
power in 1933.
29
Causes of the Rise of Dictatorship
Incompetence of democratic governments
After World War I democratic government were
established in Germany and Italy. They had to face
many crises from the very beginning. There was
the problem of the unification of the motherland
and Economic Depression in Germany. In
Germany the Jews were traitors and they advanced
money at a high rate of interest to France during
the war. Communists were encouraging civil war
on all sides and they were resorting to strikes. This
hit the economy very badly.
30
Causes of the Rise of Dictatorship
The democratic government of Germany could not
do anything between 1920 and 1933. At last
Hitler’s Nazi Party came to power, and it was
determined to root out all these evils. In Italy too
democratic government was established after
World War I, but this could not solve the political
and economic problem. Thus Benito Mussolini
ended the democratic government with the help of
his Fascist Party and solved the political and
economic problems his own ability and strength.
31
Causes of the Rise of Dictatorship
Lack of Democratic Traditions
There was a lack of democratic traditions in Italy,
Germany, Russia, Portugal and Spain. The people became
restive and they transferred al their rights to dictators.
Inability to Ensure Economic Liberty
In Russia, before 1917 revolution, Czar Nicholas II was
the ruler. He failed to take effective steps for the economic
prosperity of the people. At the time of October revolution
the Communists promised to remove economic disparities
and guaranteed livelihood to all, with the result that the
Communist revolution took place in Russia and the
Communist Party established its dictatorship.
32
Features of Dictatorship
Absoluteness of the state.
ii. No distinction is made between and society
iii. Suspension of fundamental rights and liberties
iv. Belief in violence and force
v. Opposition is not allowed to exist
vi. Emphasis on obedience to authority, strict discipline
and realization of full responsibility
vii. Control over press and radio
viii. Dictators ignore the international public opinion
i.
33
Merits of Dictatorship





Establishment of a strong government
Stable and efficient government
Economic Prosperity
Social reforms
Facing the crisis boldly
34
Demerits of Dictatorship






Curtailment of the rights and liberties of the
people.
Establishment of absolute government.
Dictators lead the country to war.
Dictators do not leave behind capable
successors.
No importance of individual.
Fear of rebellion and revolution.
35
Q & A
36
References
Agrawal, R. C.(2005), Political Theory,
New Delhi: Chand & Company Ltd.
Kapur, A.C.(2000), Principles of Political
Science, New Delhi: Chand & Company
Ltd
37