Politics: The Basics, 4th Edition

BOX 6.1 REPUBLICAN, AUTOCRATIC AND

TOTALITARIAN STATES

Most modern ‘republican’ regimes could be described as ‘repre-
sentative democracies’ in that they are not only constitutional but also
have representative institutions based on universal suffrage (one man
or woman, one vote). However, historically there were many states
like eighteenth-century Britain that had some respect for individual
rights and a constitutional form of government, without being fully

STATES 137

Republican

• Government as a constitutional process in which disparate group
  views on the public interest are reconciled through a political
  process of discussion.


• Government may intervene in economic and social affairs to
  maintain public interest and minimum welfare standards for all.


• In ‘private affairs’ citizens pursue their own happiness without
  interference.
  Examples: eighteenth-century Britain, classical Athens, modern liberal
  democracies.

Autocratic

• Public interest defined by government. Subjects’ involvement in
  politics seen as suspicious/subversive.


• Government’s role mainly limited to taxation, foreign policy.


• In ‘private affairs’ citizens pursue their own happiness without
  interference.
  Examples: monarchic governments of the eighteenth century, military
  regimes.

Totalitarian

• Government defines public interest that is all-inclusive.


• Political opposition is treason.


• No private sphere – good citizens participate enthusiastically in
  rebuilding society. Official ideology defines happiness.
  Examples: Nazi Germany, Stalin’s Soviet Union.
  (After Crick, 2000)