One-party state
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A one-party state, single-party state, one-party system, or single-party system is a type of state in which one political party has the right to form the government, usually based on the existing constitution.[1] All other parties are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled participation in elections. Sometimes the term de facto one-party state is used to describe a dominant-party system that, unlike the one-party state, allows (at least nominally) democratic multiparty elections, but the existing practices or balance of political power effectively prevent the opposition from winning the elections.
Contents
Concept[edit]
One-party states explain themselves through various methods. Most often, proponents of a one-party state argue that the existence of separate parties runs counter to national unity. Others argue that the one party is the vanguard of the people, and therefore its right to rule cannot be legitimately questioned. The Soviet government argued that multiple parties represented the class struggle, which was absent in Soviet society, and so the Soviet Union only had one party, namely the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Some one-party states only outlaw opposition parties, while allowing allied parties to exist as part of a permanent coalition such as a popular front. However, these parties are largely or completely subservient to the ruling party and must accept the ruling party’s monopoly of power as a condition of their existence. Examples of this are the People's Republic of China under the United Front, the National Front in former East Germany and the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea in North Korea. Others may allow non-party members to run for legislative seats, as was the case with Taiwan’s Tangwai movement in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the elections in the former Soviet Union.
Within their own countries, dominant parties ruling over one-party states are often referred to simply as the Party. For example, in reference to the Soviet Union, the Party meant the Communist Party of the Soviet Union; in reference to the pre-1991 Republic of Zambia, it referred to the United National Independence Party.
Most one-party states have been ruled by parties forming in one of the following three circumstances:
- an ideology of Marxism–Leninism and international solidarity (such as the Soviet Union for most of its existence)
- some type of nationalist or fascist ideology (such as Italy under Benito Mussolini)
- parties that came to power in the wake of independence from colonial rule. One-party systems often arise from decolonization because a single party gains an overwhelmingly dominant role in liberation or in independence struggles.
One-party states are usually considered to be authoritarian, to the extent that they are occasionally totalitarian. On the other hand, not all authoritarian or totalitarian states operate upon one-party rule. Some, especially amongst absolute monarchies and military dictatorships, have no need for a ruling party, and therefore make all political parties illegal.
The term "communist state" is sometimes used in the West to describe states in which the ruling party subscribes to a form of Marxism–Leninism. However, such states may not use that term themselves, seeing communism as a phase to develop after the full maturation of socialism, and instead use descriptions such as "people's republic", "socialist republic", or "democratic republic". One peculiar example is Cuba where, despite the role of the Communist Party being enshrined in the constitution, no party, including the Communist Party, is permitted to campaign or run candidates for elections. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum basis without formal party involvement, although elected assemblies predominantly consist of members of the Communist Party alongside non-affiliated candidates.[2]
Examples[edit]
Current one-party states[edit]
De jure one-party states[edit]
As of 2019[update] the following countries are legally constituted as one-party states:
De facto one-party states[edit]
As of 2019[update] the following countries are one-party states in practice:[4]
| Country | Head of party | Party | Head of popular front | Popular Front | Date of establishment | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brahim Ghali, Secretary-General | February 27, 1976 | 43 years, 266 days |
Former one-party states[edit]
Former big tent modernist one-party states[edit]
| Country | Party | Date of establishment | Date of dissolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 1945 | ||
| Cameroon People's Democratic Movement | 1975 | 1990 | |
| Neo Destour | 1963 | 1964 | |
| Socialist Destourian Party | 1964 | 1981 | |
| Mainland China: 1925 Taiwan: 1945 |
Mainland China: 1949 Taiwan: 1990 | ||
| Arab Liberation Movement | 1953 | 1954 | |
| National Revolutionary Party | 24/02/1977[5][6] | 28/04/1978 |
Former left-wing one-party states[edit]
Former Marxist–Leninist one-party countries[edit]
Former right-wing one-party states[edit]
| Country | Party | Date of establishment | Date of dissolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reform Party | 1894 | 1898 | |
| ARENA[Note 1] | 1964 | 1979 (one-party system) 1985 (entire regime) | |
| Gabonese Democratic Party | 1968 | 1990 | |
| Spanish Patriotic Union | 1924 | 1930 | |
| Malawi Congress Party | 1964 | 1993 | |
| Islamic Republican Party | 1981 | 1987 | |
| National Movement for the Development of Society | 1989 | 1991 |
Former fascist or nationalist one-party states[edit]
See also[edit]
- Ban on factions in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
- Political organisation
- Dominant-party system
- Political factionalism
- Outline of democracy
- Multi-party system
- Two-party system
- List of political party songs
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Clark, William Roberts; Golder, Matt; Golder, Sona Nadenichek (2012-03-23). Principles of Comparative Politics. SAGE. ISBN 9781608716791.
- ^ Cuba: Elections and Events 1991–2001 Archived 2007-03-01 at the Wayback Machine Latin American Election Statistics Home
- ^ "Vietnam's Party, State delegation visits DPRK". Nhân Dân. NDO/VNA. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ Article 32 of the SADR constitution states: The Polisario is the sole political formation allowed for Sahrawis to exercise politics until complete independence "Constitution of the SADR". Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ Afghanistan: A Country Study
- ^ Afghanistan 1977
- ^ 24. Mali (1960-present)
- ^ a b c d e f The Constitution of the Russian Federation: A Contextual Analysis By Jane Henderson
- ^ Ideology And Political System By Kundan Kumar
- ^ The Search for a Cameroonian Model of Democracy or the Search for the Domination of the State Party: 1966-2006
- ^ Central African Republic Unions Strike for Democracy 1990-1993
- ^ Mediterranean Fascism 1919–1945
- ^ a b China at War: Regions of China, 1937-1945
- ^ a b 12th Period - Second Republic of Portugal
- ^ Fascism and Resistance in Portugal: Communists, Liberals and Military
- ^ Law 21/1976, of June 14, on the Right of Political Association.