Definitions [4]
Definition: Dictatorship
"Dictatorship is a government of one man who has not obtained his position by inheritance but by either force or consent (manipulated consent), or a combination of both. Dictatorship means coming into power by force and then securing popular consent through manipulated elections or coming to power through legal means but establishing an autocratic/authoritarian rule by trampling the opponents and establishing a personal autocratic rule." - Alfred Cobban
Definition: Totalitarian States
- "Totalitarian state is the veritable contradictory of the Liberal Democratic type of government. The scope and authority of government is not limited, but just the reverse is total." - Finer
- "In current political literature, the term 'Totalitarian State' is used in contrast with the term "Liberal Democratic State." - Asirvatham
Definition: Authoritarian State
- Authoritarian state as one in which "all authority and power are concentrated in the hands of a few i.e., the government whose rule is essentially not responsible. The people participate in few of their decisions but are subject to all of them." - C.H. Dillon
- "An Authoritarian government is characterised by the possession of supreme authority either by one person or by a minority group which is in no way accountable to the people over whom control is exercised." - E.B. Schulz
Definition: Liberal Democratic State
"A Liberal Democratic State is one in which people's power is supreme."
Key Points
Key Points: Critical Evaluation of Dictatorship
- Little intrinsic merit.
- Dictatorship enables strong and prompt decision-making.
- Decisions face no institutional opposition.
- Complete centralisation of authority.
Key Points: Main Points of Criticism against Dictatorship
- Formation of Government rests upon Force and Violence.
- Unreal and Manipulated Elections.
- The executive is excessively powerful.
- Rule of a Person and not of Law.
- Centralised Authority System.
- Lack of Independence of the Judiciary.
- Use of Propaganda.
Key Points: Basic Features Of Dictatorship
- Rule of one person or a small group led by one person.
- Dictatorship comes into existence by force.
- Irresponsible Rule.
- Backed by Military Power of the State.
- The ruler acts for the whole nation.
- Rule based on Force and Violence.
- Totally opposed to Democracy.
- Little Importance to People's Rights and Freedoms.
Key Points: Nature of Liberal Democratic State
- Representative Government Formed by Duly and Freely Elected Representatives of the People.
- Full Respect for all Civil Right and Liberties of the People.
- Defined and Specified Power and Role of the Executive.
- Limited Government.
- System of Social, Economic, Political and Legal Checks and Balances.
- Free and Open struggle for power in Society and Polity.
- Freedom of the People to Form and Manage Political Parties and Associations.
Key Points: Merits of Liberal Democracy
- Representative and Responsible Government.
- Better protection of interests of common man.
- People's full Participation in Political Process.
- Free and Open Struggle for Political Power.
- Political Education for the people.
- Government Based on Public Consent.
- Peaceful and Orderly Change of Government.
- Little Fear of Revolution.
- Accountability of Government.
- Active Civil Society.
Key Points: Nature of a Totalitarian State
- Against Rule of Law
- Complete Centralisation of Power
- One-Party System
- Control over Individuals and Society
- Based on Force and Coercion
Key Points: Major Features of a Totalitarian State
- Totally opposed to a Liberal Democratic State.
- The ruler’s ideology becomes the state ideology, compulsory for all citizens.
- People have no real role in decision-making
- Force and fear are the basis of state authority and obedience.
- Rights exist only at the will of the ruler and for the power of the state.
- Belief in a monolithic society-one leader, one party, one ideology, one rule.
- Press and mass media are controlled by the state.
- Nation and state power are glorified above everything else.
- Opposed to social, economic, and political pluralism.
Key Points: Fundamental Features of a Modern Totalitarian State
- Total Political Control.
- One Dominant Party System.
- Elaborate State Ideology.
- Control over the Judiciary and Media.
- Mass Mobilisation and Forced Participation.
Key Points: Features of Authoritarian State
- Limited Political Competition
- Absence of a Dominant Ideology
- Restricted Scope of Politics
- Use of Force and Coercion
- Low Priority to Civil Liberties
- Elite-Based Rule
- Concentration of Power
Key Points: Forms of Authoritarian States> raditional Authoritarian State
- Ruled by a small ruling group, powerful aristocratic family, elite family, or a small class.
- Political power is monopolised by a few individuals.
- Maintained through traditions, customs, religion, and personal loyalties.
- Instruments of rule include force, coercion, wealth, corruption, and family or group loyalties.
- Examples include rule by Amirs, Kings, feudal lords, or elite families.
Key Points: Chief Features of an Authoritarian State
- A state ruled by an autocratic government.
- The executive is the most powerful organ, and it dominates the legislature.
- Lack of Judicial Independence.
- Limited Political Pluralism.
- Restriction of Rights and Freedoms.
- Fear, force, coercion and political repression is used to secure compliance.
- Controlled Civil Society.
Key Points: Forms of Authoritarian States> Modern Authoritarian State
- Ruled by a coalition of military officers, bureaucrats, technocrats, or elite groups.
- Power is often seized by a military dictator, military junta, or civil junta.
- Regime promotes the ideology of modernization and development.
- Propaganda and control of mass media.
- Facade constitution or controlled political system.
Key Points: Concept of Dictatorship
- Dictatorship is a form of government in which one ruler exercises unlimited or excessive authority.
- It is also known as autocracy or authoritarian government.
- The dictator rules according to his own will and is answerable only to himself, not to the people.
- Dictatorial rule is maintained through force, fear, coercion, repression, and manipulation.
- The dictator controls the media, the judiciary, and the political institutions to retain power.
- There is suppression of opposition and no genuine political competition.
- Examples of dictators include Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Salazar, Idi Amin, and Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf.
Difference Between Totalitarian and Authoritarian States
| Basis of Difference | Totalitarian States | Authoritarian States |
|---|---|---|
| Political Pluralism | No political pluralism | Limited and controlled pluralism |
| Legitimacy | Forced legitimacy | Engineered or manipulated legitimacy |
| State–Society Relation | No separation between state and society | Limited separation between state and society |
| Ideology | One official state ideology | Use of ideology to justify rule |
| Party System | Single party and single leader dominate | The party system used to support the dictator |
| Power Structure | Complete centralisation of all powers | Strong and dominant executive |
| Political Participation | Forced and controlled participation | Limited and regulated participation |
| Rule | Rule of single-party leadership | Rule of a dictator, not the rule of law |
Important Questions [23]
- What is meant by a totalitarian state?
- Explain any two features of the totalitarian state.
- Explain four features of an Authoritarian State.
- Discuss any six merits under Indian Constitution of liberal democracy.
- Limited government, guaranteed fundamental rights to the citizens and an emphasis on individual flourishing are characteristics of a ______ democratic state.
- Which one of the following characterises a Liberal Democratic State?
- Discuss Any Three Features of a Liberal Democratic State.
- India is described as a federal state with subsidiary unitary features. Identify two of these unitary features.
- Ideally, the constitution of a federal state should be ______.
- What is meant by a federal state?
- Explain any two features of the federal state.
- Explain why India is characterized as a quasi-federal state.
- Give an example of a federal state.
- What are the characteristics of a federal state?
- Elaborate on any two differences between the Presidential and the Parliamentary forms of government.
- Explain any three features of a parliamentary form of government.
- Answer the Question Briefly. Explain Three Differences Between Parliamentary and Presidential Forms of Government.
- Compare the positions of the President of India and the President of the United States.
- Answer Briefly the Question State Aristotle’S Theory of Cyclic Change.
- Mention any two merits of a Parliamentary System of Government.
- Discuss any six merits of a Presidential form of Government.
- Explain the reasons why the power of the Executive has grown in recent years.
- What is the Main Difference Between a Federal Form of Government and a Unitary One? Explain with an Example.
