Political Systems

Definition

Political systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.

Analogy

Think of a political system as the operating system of a computer. Just like an operating system manages all the functions and operations of a computer, a political system manages the functions and operations of a society.

Related terms

Regimes: Regimes are the rules, norms, and institutions that govern political behavior within a political system.

Governments: Governments are the specific individuals or groups that hold power within a political system and make decisions on behalf of the society.

Authoritarianism: Authoritarianism is a type of political system where power is concentrated in one leader or group without meaningful competition or accountability.