Political Definitions
Paleolithic Government
1. stateless societies
2. tribal governments by strongest, best hunter, best provider, or an elder
3. women often could sit in councils, offer advice, and sometimes lead
Neolithic Government and Nomadic Councils
1. tribal councils dominated by males, largest land owner, owner of most animals (in herding societies)
2. city-state – one city controls the land around it
3. nomadic societies often had two classes: aristocratic and commoners; rulers from a royal clan/family
Ancient and Classical Governments
1. General types of government
a. monarchy: rule by king; either elected or inherited
b. aristocracy: rule by nobles born to the position
c. oligarchy: rule by a few, often the wealthy; sometimes merchants
d. democracy: rule by popular vote
i. direct democracy – every eligible voter votes
ii. republic – eligible voters elect representatives to make the legislative decisions
e. theocracy: rule by a god-king (such as a pharaoh) or rule through a priestly class with religious laws
dominating
f. gerontocracy: rule by the elderly (common to East Asia)
2. Empires
a. tribute empire – a large conquest state which allows local rule, autonomy if taxes and tribute are paid
b. dynastic rule – a form of monarchy where the ruler is chosen from a specific family
c. centralized rule – the head of state makes all decisions and rules through a bureaucracy or aristocracy
3. Caste government
a. birth castes determine social class and leadership role
b. most often associated with South Asia, but common in Andean Americas and Mayan city-states
4. Bureaucracy
a. Rule by specialists trained and educated to rule
b. Bureaucrats can also be military leaders, aristocratic leaders, or from the priestly class
Post-Classical Government
1. feudalism - decentralized rule based on a warrior aristocracy, local justice, and local control of the land
a. in Japan there was a shogun that ruled over the lords/daimyos
b. in Europe, eventually there were kings that ruled over the lords/nobles
2. divine right monarchy or divine right absolutism
a. God-inspired and ordained government: caliphates, papal states, Christian kingdoms of the east, and western
Europe
b. Privy councils, curia, wazirs, and sultans often exercised real power in the name of “god”
3. warrior states
a. power exercised through a warrior elite
b. tended toward feudalism
Early Modern Government
1. New Style Monarchs
a. often depend on non-traditional class for support (i.e., middle class in Europe)
b. exercise control through military or bureaucracy; struggle with traditional elites
c. gunpowder states/land-based empires – empires established and ruled through firearms or military
technology; relate to expanding into neighboring territories
d. royal absolutism – divine right monarchies are absolutist monarchies
2. Nation-State/nationalism
a. developed in France; a state where one ethnic group dominates the state structure
b. ideology of loyalty to a state or ethnic group rather than loyalty to a ruler or religion
c. comes to include all classes irrespective of birth
3. Multi-national state
a. a state with many ethnic or religiouss groups; nationalism within these multi-ethnic states threatens stability
b. millet government system in Turkey allowed local religions self-rule; paid a higher tax if you weren’t Muslim
4. Modern Empires
a. settler colonies – mother country attempts to recreate mother culture abroad by sending settlers
b. colonialism – control of other territories/nations for purpose of economic exploitation
c. direct rule – distant colonies ruled directly from mother country; often mercantilistic
d. indirect rule – colony is ruled by a local elite not a person from the mother country
5. Constitutional Monarchy
a. parliaments or elected legislative bodies limit royal power
b. constitutions (may be a series of documents) limit royal power
6. Party Politics
a. established political parties represent particular interests, groups
b. competition for political power
7. Federalism - Local territorial units exist with protected rights (i.e., US federal government and the state governments)
8. Con-federalism or Confederation – federal government has less power that the “states”; limits national power
Modern and Contemporary Government
1. Modern Democratic State
a. suffrage/enfranchised – the vote
b. full suffrage – all male and female citizens vote
c. socialist/welfare state – government is responsible for the well-being of all citizens; sometimes the
government controls certain industries
d. checks and balances – idea that legislative, executive, and judicial branches are independent but also check
one another
2. Authoritarian/autocratic State
a. Military rule
b. One man or one party dictatorial rule
3. Totalitarian State – elite, secretive mass parties rule through terror, technology, and the glorification of the leader cult
a. fascist/Nazi – state with absolute control of all aspects of society; based on nationalism/racism and
glorification of the nation
b. communist – state with absolute control of all aspects of society; based on concerns of workers and peasants