Classification of Governments

 Monarchy
 Aristocracy
 Democracy
 Dictatorship
Monarchy
• Monarchy represents that form of
government where the source of all political
authority is to be found in a supreme ruler.
• This was a popular form till the nineteenth
century.
Kind of Monarchy
 Hereditary
 Elective
Merits of Absolute Monarchy
1. Useful for civilized and underdeveloped
societies
2. All-sided development of the country is
possible
3. Promote decisions
4. A wise king can provide a good
leadership during war
5. Experience
6. Uniformity in policy and stability in
administration
7. Conducive to the social justice
8. It imparts unity and efficiency to the
administration
9. Protection of the people against the
tyranny of the landlords
Demerits of Absolute Monarchy
1. Orthodox and incompetent monarch leads the
country to a downfall.
2. Hereditary office for the Head of the State is
not justifiable.
3. Monarchy generally degenerates into tyranny.
4. It has no place for democracy or self-
government.
5. It leads to inequality of wealth.
6. Monarchy is not suitable to the modern
age

7. Limited Monarchy
Democracy
Greek word
 Demos = the people
 And
 Kratos = power
 Democracy thus means ‘Power of
the people’
Definition of Democracy
• Professor Seeley says, Democracy is a
government in which everybody has a share.
• President Abraham Lincoln,`` It is a
government of the people, by the people and for
the people.
• According to Dicey, Democracy is a form of
government in which the governing body is a
comparatively large fraction of the entire
nation.
 Kinds of Democracy
• Pure or Direct Democracy
– When the people themselves directly express their will
on public affairs, the type of government is called pure
or direct democracy.
– The people formulate laws in a mass meeting
• Representative or Indirect Democracy
– The will of the state is formulated and expressed not
directly by the people themselves, but by their
representatives to whom they delegate the of
deliberation and decision-making.
Basic principles or Requisites of
Democracy
1. Liberty
2. Equality
3. Fraternity
4. The people as ultimate source of sovereignty
5. Fundamental Rights to the people
6. Independence of Judiciary
7. The people are considered as an end and
State as the means in a democracy
8. Welfare State
Conditions for the success of
Democracy
1. Sound system of Education
2. Enlightened Citizenship
3. Political awakening
4. Freedom
5. Equality
6. Law and order
7. Sprit of cooperation
8. Decentralization of Powers and Local Self-
Government
9. High Moral Standard
10. Social and Economic security
11. Tolerance and Spirit of Unity
12. Sound party system
13. Written constitution and independent judiciary
14. Independent, impartial and periodical elections
15. political security, good administration,
economic prosperity and wise leadership
Merits of Democracy
1. It pays special heed to the interests of common
man
2. It is based on equality
3. It is the greatest upholder of the lofty ideals of
liberty and fraternity
4. It is based on public opinion
5. It minimizes the chances of revolution
6. It serves as a training school for good citizenship
7. Democracy is an efficient form of Government
8. It raises the moral standard of the people
9. It gives political education to the people
10. It promotes patriotism and national unity and
creates the interest of the people in the
administration
11. Democracy is most suitable for social,
economic, political and religious reforms
Demerits of Democracy
1. Democracy is the rule of incompetent
person
2. Democracy hinders the progress of
civilization and culture
3. Democracy gives more importance to the
quantity rather than to quality
4. In democracy administration is very costly
5. Capitalists exercise a dominant influence
upon democracy
6. Political parties spoil the harmonious
atmosphere and corruption becomes rampant.
7. In the democracy there is the rule of majority
which becomes unjust sometimes
8. Sometimes the government is not stable in a
democracy
9. Democracy is only an imagination and does not
exist in practice
10. Local conflicts are predominant in democracy
which harm national interests
11. It lowers the moral standard of the people
12. It proves weak in times of war and crisis
Dictatorship
 According to Ford, ``Dictatorship is the
assumption of extra-legal authority by the Head
of the state.”
 Alfred says, ``Dictatorship is the government of
one man who has not obtained his position by
inheritance but either by force or by consent,
and normally by a combination of both.”
Main feature of dictatorship
1. This is one man’s show
2. This is based on force or consent or a mixture of
both
3. The dictator is not responsible to any other authority
4. His powers are unlimited
5. The dictator runs the administration authoritatively
and not according to law
6. His tenure is not fixed
Causes of rise of dictatorship
1. Outbreak of the First World War
2. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 was
based upon injustice
3. Incompetence of democratic government
4. Lack of democratic Traditions
5. Inability to secure economic liberty
 Feature of modern dictatorship
1. Absoluteness of the State
2. No distinction is recognized between the
State and Society
3. Suspension of Fundamental Rights and
Liberties
4. Belief in violence and force
5. Opposition is not allowed to exist
6. Emphasis on obedience to Authority, strict
discipline and realization of full responsibility
7. Control over Press and Radios
8. Dictators ignore the international public
opinion
Three types of Dictatorship
 Communist Dictatorship
 Military Dictatorship
 Fascist Dictatorship
Merits of Dictatorship

1. Establishment of a strong Government

2. Stable and efficient Government

3. Economic Prosperity

4. Social reforms

5. Facing the crisis boldly

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