25 Unique Types Of Government You Might Not Know Exist

Posted by , Updated on March 24, 2024

Humans crave stability, tranquility, and wealth, hence the necessity of governance. However, the concept of the ideal government varies from person to person. Across history, various governmental systems, ranging from monarchies to democracies, have been implemented, collapsed, and then resurrected years afterward. Some governments have incredibly bolstered prosperity and human rights, while others have resulted in disastrous consequences, violating rights and triggering genocides. Today, democracy is arguably the predominant form of government, but what about the alternate forms of governance? This article reveals 25 Uncommon Types Of Government You May Not Be Familiar With.

25

Logocracy

wordsSource: https://blog.oup.com/2008/09/the-paradox-of-logocracy/

Originating from author Washington Irving when he described the United States as a Logocracy in his work Salmagundi, the Logocracy is a system of government created and ruled by words.

24

Plutocracy

monopolySource: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/plutocracy.asp

A Plutocracy is a government ruled by the wealthy, either directly or indirectly. This can express itself through various policy decisions especially if the wealthy hold more sway over decision making. It will also create the rise of income inequality.

23

Exilarchy

dalai lamaSource: http://listverse.com/2009/03/06/10-lesser-known-or-used-forms-of-government/

An Exilarchy has rule over a religious or ethnic people rather than a geographical location. The leader has power through honorary means and only has control over their followers. An example of Exilarchy is the Dalai Lama.

22

Technocracy

professionalSource: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/technocracy.asp

Rather than being elected to serve the majority consensus of the people, in a Technocracy, someone is elected for their technical expertise. As such, technocrats would make decisions based on their experience and methodology rather than public opinion.

21

Kleptocracy

kleptocracySource: http://carnegieendowment.org/2017/08/15/kleptocracy-in-america-pub-72836

A Kleptocracy is a government of thieves. They use the people they rule and the country’s resources to improve their own wealth. Leaders will especially find ways to embezzle money from the treasury for themselves.

20

Minarchism

dont tread on meSource: https://www.thoughtco.com/what-kind-of-libertarian-are-you-721655

Minarchism is a form of libertarianism that provides minimal serves for the state, like having a military. It also believes smaller non-government groups should provide services rather than a larger governing whole.

19

Demarchy

ticketSource: https://www.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/pubs/89demarchy.html

Demarchy is a government system based on casting lots. Volunteers will form small groups through random selection, and they will be given a specific task of government. Positions will have term limits and new people will be randomly selected.

18

Thalassocracy

shipsSource: http://www.friesian.com/thalasso.htm

An ancient form of government, the Thalassocracy means “rule of the sea” or essentially those that own the sea. This kind of government is naturally fragile because once the navy is destroyed, their power ceases.

17

Geniocracy

GeniocracySource: https://listverse.com/2015/05/07/10-bizarre-hypothetical-forms-of-government/

Geniocracy is a form of government in which the state is ruled by intelligent people rather than everyone. IQ and other tests would be administered for the right to vote and the ability to run for office.

16

Meritocracy

ladderSource: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/the-perils-of-meritocracy/532215/

Rather than intelligent people running things, Meritocracy is a government system run by hard-working and successful people, skilled in many areas of life. They move ahead in the government based on their achievements.

15

Ethnocracy

hitlerSource: http://theconversation.com/first-the-word-then-the-deed-how-an-ethnocracy-like-australia-works-69972

An Ethnocracy is a government body or state that is run specifically by one ethnic group. It also can occur within a democracy where the ruling ethnic group enjoys rights and privileges above minority ethnicities.

14

Diarchy

diarchySource: https://www.britannica.com/topic/dyarchy

Diarchy originated in India through the Government of India Act in 1919. It split the executive branch into two government bodies. The crown appointed the first rulers and the Indian governors appointed the second. They ruled side by side.

13

Distributed Government

people on phonesSource: https://mic.com/articles/27300/it-s-time-for-distributed-government#.A2YxSShbc

Distributed Government is a model that harnesses the latest connectivity of the internet. Rather than a select few making decisions in one location, in Distributed Government, many people all over would make decisions at remote locations. The idea is to be hyperlocal and break down current bureaucratic gridlock and lobbying.

12

Ochlocracy

jakartaSource: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/apr/28/artsandhumanities.highereducation

Simple enough, Ochlocracy is when the mob rules. Rather than order through a democratic process, the mob takes over and rules through violence, anger, and prejudice, usually through a riot.

11

Futarchy

metricSource: https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/08/21/introduction-futarchy/

Originally proposed by Robin Hanson, Futarchy doesn’t focus on voting on politicians or legislation but rather values. Their slogan: vote values, but bet beliefs. People would vote on metrics on how well their country is doing rather than policies. Prediction markets would then pick the best policies that match those metrics.

10

Timocracy

timocracySource: http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2016/07/23/how_is_plato_s_republic_relevant_today.html

Part of Plato’s five regimes, Timocracy places property as the highest value and has a soldier or warrior seeking the good of the people. Usually, these leaders are “high-spirited” but simple-minded.

9

Netocracy

networkSource: http://www.thenetocrats.com/

With the dawn of multimedia and the internet, Alexander Bard put forward the idea of Netocracy, a world run by interactive networks. By controlling networks, you obtain power and control over governments, people, and policies.

8

Liquid Democracy

liquid democracySource: https://medium.com/hive-commons/liquid-democracy-ethereum-and-the-slow-path-to-revolution-9c1d5916e706

Liquid democracy is a combination of both direct democracy and representative democracy and allows for everyone to vote on all issues or vote for a delegate to vote on their behalf. In the past, this system wouldn’t be easy to implement, but with the advantage of the internet, people believe it might now work.

7

Noocracy

noocracySource: https://io9.gizmodo.com/12-futuristic-forms-of-government-that-could-one-day-ru-1589833046

First presented by Teilhard de Chardin, Noocracy is a futuristic form of government where a combination of biological and artificial minds govern the world, a kind of government brain if you will. Through informational networks, this hive mind would lead through intelligence.

6

Ergatocracy

workersSource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ergatocracy

Similar to Communism in some respects, an Ergatocracy is a government purposely ruled by the working class of society.

5

Distributism

handSource: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markshea/2013/09/what-is-distributism.html, http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/2014/06/what-is-distributism.html

In contrast to communism which puts wealth in the hands of the state, and capitalism which puts wealth in the hands of oligarchs, distributism focuses on putting wealth, power, and property in the hands of all human beings by giving everyone the means to succeed.

4

Stratocracy

militarySource: http://sociologyindex.com/stratocracy.htm

Stratocracy is a form of government totally ruled by the military. Unlike a military dictatorship where their power doesn’t come from laws, in a stratocracy, a military’s government power does come from law.

3

Electocracy

electocracySource: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2230.2008.00679.x/abstract

Electocracy may sound like another way of saying democracy, but they are different. Electocracy allows people to vote for their government but doesn’t allow them to have a voice in the political process or decision making along the way.

2

Theocracy

popeSource: https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/political-science-and-government/political-science-terms-and-concepts-96

Theocracy is a government run by God under the stewardship of priests. Jewish historian Flavius Josephus coined the term in an attempt to explain the Jewish political system of his time to gentile readers.

1

Anarcho-capitalism

anarcho capitalismSource: http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/dward/newrightanarchocap.html

Anarcho-capitalism runs in the anarchist school of thought, which advocates the removal of the state and the rule of a totally free market. They believe the natural laws of economics will iron themselves out without the need for a government to regulate it.



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