What are the different types of government besides democracy?

Question

How are they different, what are the rules and what countries have them?

Answer 1

There are a variety of different types of Government. I would say Aristotle breaks up the forms in the most basic, yet comprehensible way.

Aristotle says there are 3 forms of both good and bad types of government.

You have, the rule of One. Which is in the good form Monarchy and in the bad form Tyranny. Monarchy is the rule of one wise person for the good of the people. Tyranny is the rule of one vicious person for the good of themselves.

You have the rule of Few. Which is in the good form Aristocracy and in the bad form Oligarchy. Aristocracy is the rule of many wise people for the good of the people and promotion of virtue, and Oligarchy is the rule of the rich for maintaince of their money

You have rule of the Many. Which in the good form is considered Constitutional and in the bad for Democracy. Again, the Constitution is the rule for the good of everyone, even the minority, the Democracy is the rule for only the majority.


These are the most basic types, all governments are variations upon these. Though, some may say America does not fit this, but rather is as Montesquieu argued a combination of each of these three forms.

Answer 2

Anarchism (perhaps better defined as a system of non-hierarchical governance)
Anarcho-communism
Anarcho-capitalism
Eco-anarchism
Anarcho-socialism
Anarcho-syndicalism
Autocracy
Authoritarianism
Fascism
Absolutism
Enlightened absolutism
Despotism
Dictatorship (not all dictatorships are autocracies)
Military dictatorship
Benevolent dictatorship
Matriarchy
Monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Despotate
Duchy
Grand Duchy
Elective monarchy
Emirate
Hereditary monarchy
Popular monarchy
Principality
New Monarchs
Self-proclaimed monarchy
Viceroyalty
Patriarchy
Patrimonalism
Totalitarianism
"Communist" (Socialist) states (their relationship with the communist movement is disputed)
National Socialism (Nazism)
Nationalism
Single-party state
Tyranny
Police state
Corporate police state
Democracy
Deliberative democracy
Democratic republic
Direct democracy
Participatory democracy
Representative democracy
Westminster system
Parliamentary system
Consensus government
Presidential system (Congressional system)
Semi-presidential system
Social democracy (also a political movement)
Soviet democracy
Oligarchy
Aristocracy
Corporatism
Gerontocracy
Kleptocracy
Meritocracy
Plutocracy
Robocracy
Technocracy (bureaucratic)
Republic
Presidential republic
Parliamentary republic
Constitutional republic
Theocracy (Hierocracy)
Caliphate
Halakha state (in ancient times)
Holy See
Islamic Republic
Sultanate
Tribalism

Answer 3

We have a Republican form of government, designed to protect us against Democracy by limiting the power of central government and of public voting.

A Dictatorship, like Kim Jong Il's North Korea or Castro's Cuba, works just like a Monarchy in which a top leader issues commands down a chain of command to control the population. The population has limited say in their own fate and that is only what is allowed by the Dictator/Monarch. Socialist/Communist States set up this sort of system. Pay attention to Hugo Chavez and you will see how that comes about.

A Theocracy may be similar to a Dictatorship but it is religious leaders who dictate to the people. Islamic states are a good example. Their religious leaders dictate the law and there are extreme penalties for angering God by disobeying the religious leaders.

Answer 4

Dictatorship--one strong person in power, no other rules, what they say goes.
Monarchy--Emperor, King or Queen rule, subject to whatever laws exist at the time
There are others, also, but I don't know about them.

Answer 5

To cut people a little slack, the lines do get blurry at times. China calls itself Communist, but has been fascist for over a generation.

Answer 6

there are no other viable alternatives that actually promote equality and freedom at least in its ideal.