Regime
Definition
A regime refers to the set of rules, institutions, practices, and norms that determine how power is exercised within a country. It encompasses both formal structures (such as constitutions) and informal arrangements (such as unwritten traditions).
Analogy
Imagine a regime as the operating system on your phone. It provides the framework for all apps to function properly while setting certain limitations on what can be done with your device.
Related terms
Authoritarianism: A form of government characterized by strong central authority where individual freedoms are limited or suppressed.
Democracy: A system of government where power is vested in the people through free elections and citizen participation.
Hybrid Regime: A combination of democratic elements (such as elections) with authoritarian features (such as restrictions on civil liberties), creating an ambiguous mix between democracy and autocracy.
"Regime" appears in:
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (7)
- What type of regime tends to allow a more robust civil society?
- In which type of regime does the state use the law to reinforce its authority and differentiate the population and the government by putting them on different levels?
- In which type of regime are contested elections held, but with limited degrees of competitiveness, providing minimal civil liberty protections and governmental transparency?
- Which type of regime concentrates power in the hands of a single individual, a small group of individuals, or a party with no rule of law to govern them?
- What type of regime does Nigeria have?
- What is one factor that can cause a regime to lose legitimacy?
- What are some factors that can cause a regime to lose legitimacy?
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