Glossary
Assembly and Speech
The rights of individuals to gather peacefully and express their opinions without undue government restriction.
Example:
Citizens holding a rally in a public square to advocate for environmental protection are exercising their rights to assembly and speech.
Authoritarian Regimes
Political systems characterized by concentrated power, limited political pluralism, and suppression of individual rights and freedoms to maintain state control.
Example:
In an authoritarian regime, citizens typically have no say in who governs them, and any opposition is swiftly crushed.
Civil Liberties
Individual rights that protect citizens from unfair government interference, ensuring personal freedoms.
Example:
The right to protest peacefully against a government policy is a fundamental civil liberty.
Democratic Regimes
Political systems where power is derived from the people, typically through free and fair elections, and individual rights and liberties are generally protected.
Example:
Citizens in a democratic regime can vote for their leaders, participate in protests, and expect their fundamental rights to be upheld by the government.
Established Democracy
A democratic regime with a long history of stable democratic practices, strong institutions, and consistent protection of civil liberties.
Example:
The United Kingdom, with its centuries of parliamentary tradition and robust legal protections for rights, is considered an established democracy.
Freedom House Scores
A numerical rating system used by Freedom House to assess a country's level of political rights and civil liberties, with lower scores indicating greater freedom.
Example:
A country with a Freedom House score of 1 would be considered very free, while one with a 7 would be deemed 'not free,' indicating severe restrictions on rights.
Hybrid Regimes
Political systems that combine elements of both authoritarianism and democracy, often featuring contested elections but with significant restrictions on civil liberties and political competition.
Example:
A country might hold regular elections, but if the opposition parties face severe harassment and the media is heavily censored, it could be classified as a hybrid regime.
Illiberal/Emerging Democracies
Regimes that have adopted democratic procedures like elections but still exhibit significant restrictions on civil liberties, rule of law, or political competition.
Example:
A nation that holds elections but where the judiciary is not truly independent and journalists face frequent intimidation might be categorized as an illiberal democracy.
Media as a Linkage Institution
The role of the media in connecting citizens to the government by providing information, facilitating public discourse, and holding power accountable.
Example:
When a newspaper investigates and exposes corruption within a government ministry, it is acting as a media linkage institution, informing the public and pressuring officials.
Rule by Law
A system where the law is used by the state to reinforce its authority and control citizens, often without the state itself being bound by the same rules.
Example:
In a country operating under rule by law, the government might pass a decree that criminalizes any form of public criticism, using the legal system to suppress dissent.
Rule of Law
A principle where the state and its citizens are equally bound by and accountable to the same laws, ensuring fairness and predictability.
Example:
Under the rule of law, even the president of a country can be prosecuted if they break a law, demonstrating that no one is above the legal system.