Single-party state

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States in which a single party is constitutionally linked to power are coloured in brown. Click the image for an explanation of the color codes.
States in which a single party is constitutionally linked to power are coloured in brown. Click the image for an explanation of the color codes.
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A single-party state or one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election. Sometimes de facto single-party state is used about a dominant-party system where unfair laws or practices prevent the opposition from legally getting power. Some single party states only outlaw opposition parties, subordinate allied parties can exist as part of a popular front. Such dominant parties are usually reffered to in their specific contexts as the Party.

A one-party system should not be confused with a non-partisan democracy which prohibits all political parties. Also, some one-party states may allow non-party members to run for legislative seats, as was the case with Taiwan's Tangwai movement in the 1970s and 1980s.

In most cases, single-party states have arisen from fascist, socialist, or nationalist ideologies, particularly in the wake of independence from colonial rule. One-party systems often arise from decolonization because one party has had an overwhelmingly dominant role in liberation or in independence struggles.

Where the ruling party subscribes to a form of Marxism-Leninism, the one-party state system is usually called a Socialist republic. Such nations are also described as communist states, though they do not use that term to describe themselves. In socialist republics such as Cuba, the role of the Communist Party is enshrined in the consitution, and no party is permitted to campaign or run candidates for election, including the Communist party. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum basis without formal party involvement, though elected assemblies predominantly consist of members of the dominant party alongside non-affiliated candidates.[1]

Contents

[edit] Examples

[edit] Current single party states

The following list includes the countries that are legally constituted as single-party states as of 2007 and the name of the single party in power:

[edit] Former single-party states

Examples include:

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Cuba: Elections and Events 1991-2001 Latin American Election Statistics Home

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


Forms of Government and Methods of Rule: Autocratic and Authoritarian

Autocratic: Despotism | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Absolute monarchy (Caliphate | Despotate | Emirate | Empire | Khanate | Sultanate | Other monarchical titles) | Enlightened absolutism

Other Authoritarian: Military dictatorship (often a Junta) | Oligarchy | Single-party state (Communist state | Fascist(oid) state) | de facto: Illiberal democracy
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