POLITICS

AUTOCRACY

- is a system of government in which absolute power over a state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject neither to external legal restraints nor to regularized mechanisms of popular control.

OLIGARCHY

- 'rule by few'; is a conceptual form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, or corporate, religious, political, or military control.

PLUTOCRACY

- is a society that is ruled or controlled by people of great wealth or income. The first known use of the term in English dates from 1631. Unlike most political systems, plutocracy is not rooted in any established political philosophy.

DEMOCRACY

- is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (direct democracy), or to choose governing officials to do so (representative democracy). Democracy include freedom of assembly, association, property rights, freedom of religion and speech, inclusiveness and equality, citizenship, voting rights, right to life and liberty, and minority rights.

Democratic systems are characterized by governments that are voted for by the people (which must have a meaningful choice) and that are designed to serve the public interest. In democracies, citizens hold power, which they exercise through voting and other forms of political participation. The core values that underlie democracy include the promotion and observance of fundamental human rights. It is useful to distinguish between democratic ideals and how democratic governments function in practice. Not all democracies are equally effective at defending and promoting democratic ideals. Not all democracies agree with the "democratic" principles that democratic institutions necessarily promote public goods and that all democratic governments are created equal. Democracies are a type of political system in which power ideally belongs to the people.

In authoritarian systems, power is in the hands of a ruling minority (autocracies are an example of an authoritarian system in which power is in the hands of one person). Authoritarian systems are usually not limited by the views and opinions of the public, even if they allow for a voting system. The values on which they are based are limited by the common values of the minority in power, which may be contrary to the general interests of society. There are different types of authoritarian systems.

Hybrid systems, as the name suggests, include a mix of democratic (eg regular elections) and authoritarian elements (eg political repression). The degree to which a hybrid political system shares features with democracy or authoritarianism varies. It is important to note that corruption negatively affects all types of political systems: it manifests itself in young and established democracies, in hybrid regimes, in authoritarian or autocratic systems.

Corruption is an example and a symptom of the erosion of public integrity and ethics and the loss of public trust in governance systems. Corruption affects all societies, and public acceptance of corruption varies by society and context. This means that what is considered a bribe in one country may be considered a gift in another. Corrupt practices take place in both developed and developing countries, as well as in democratic and non-democratic systems, corruption is a “trans-systemic problem” that affects all societies, classes, age groups and genders. Corruption manifests itself in various forms such as electoral fraud, manipulation, influence peddling, patronage, nepotism, embezzlement and kickbacks, abuse of power, influence peddling, illicit enrichment and money laundering.