A single-party state, one-party state, one-party system, or single-party system
is a type of state in which a single political party has the right to form
the government, usually based on the existing constitution. All other parties
are either outlawed or allowed to take only a limited and controlled
participation in elections. Sometimes the term de facto single-party state is
used to describe a dominant-party system that, unlike the single-party state,
allows democratic multiparty elections, but the existing practices or balance of
political power effectively prevent the opposition from winning the elections.
Concept Single-party states justify themselves
through various methods. Most often, proponents of a single-party state argue
that the existence of separate parties runs counter to national unity. Others
argue that the single party is the vanguard of the people, and therefore
its right to rule cannot be legitimately questioned. The Marxist theory states
that political parties represent the interests, most of which, in a liberal
system, respond to the economic power and are part of the system where whoever
wins there will be no substantial changes, once abolished class
distinctions no place for the struggle for multiparty own economic interests,
however, an organization that is able to formulate national policies and manage
their reins to ensure the development of socialism is necessary, this
organization is the only party to be the only existing single social class and
the common interest of progress. Some single party states only outlaw
opposition parties, while allowing subordinate allied parties to exist as
part of a permanent coalition such as a popular front. Examples of this are the
People's Republic of China under the United Front, or the National Front in
former East Germany. 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 Soviet Union. Within their own countries, dominant
parties ruling over single-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 former People's
Republic of Poland it referred to the Polish United Workers' Party.
Most single-party states have been ruled either by parties following the ideology
of Marxism-Leninism and international solidarity, or by parties following some
type of nationalist or fascist ideology, or by parties that came to power in the
wake of independence from colonial rule. One-party systems often arise from
decolonization because one party has had an overwhelmingly dominant role in
liberation or in independence struggles. Single-party states are often, but not
always, considered to be authoritarian or totalitarian. However, not all
authoritarian or totalitarian states operate based on single-party rule.
Some, especially absolute monarchies and certain military dictatorships, have
made all political parties illegal. The term "communist state" is often used
in the west to apply to states in which the ruling party subscribes to a form of
Marxism-Leninism. However, such states do not use that term themselves, seeing
communism as a phase to develop after the full maturation of socialism, and
instead often use the titles of "people's republic", "socialist
republic", or "democratic republic". One peculiar example is Cuba, where the role
of the Communist Party is enshrined in the constitution, and no party is
permitted to campaign or run candidates for election, including the Communist
party. Candidates are elected on an individual referendum basis without
formal party involvement, though elected assemblies predominantly consist of
members of the dominant party alongside non-affiliated candidates.
Examples The True Whig Party of Liberia is
considered the founder of the first single-party state in the world, as
despite opposition parties never being outlawed, it completely dominated
Liberian politics from 1878 until 1980. The party was conceived by the original
Black American settlers and their descendants who referred to themselves
as Americo-Liberians. Initially, its ideology was heavily influenced by that
of the Whig Party in the United States. Over time it developed into a powerful
Masonic Order that ruled every aspect of Liberian society for well over a century
until it was overthrown in 1980. While the True Whig Party still exists today,
its influence has substantially declined.
= Current single-party states= As of 2013 the following countries are
legally constituted as single-party states and the name of the single party
in power: = Former single-party states=
Most states in Sub-Saharan Africa after independence, although all except
Eritrea have eventually converted to a de jure multi-party system;
Angola 1975–1991 Benin 1975–1990
Upper Volta 1960–1966 Burundi 1966–1992
Cameroon 1966–1985, 1985–1990 Cape Verde 1975–1981, 1981–1990
Central African Republic 1962–1980, 1980-1981, 1987–1991
Chad 1962–1973, 1973–1975, 1984–1990 Comoros 1982–1990
Congo-Brazzaville 1969–1990 Zaire 1970–1990
Djibouti 1977–1992 Equatorial Guinea 1970–1979, 1987–1991
Ethiopia 1984–1991 Gabon 1968–1990
Ghana 1964–1966 Guinea 1958–1984
Guinea-Bissau 1974–1991 Ivory Coast 1960–1990
Kenya 1982–1991 Liberia 1878–1980
Madagascar 1976–1989 Malawi 1964–1993
Mali 1960–1968, 1976–1991 Mauritania 1961–1978
Mozambique 1975–1990 Niger 1960–1974, 1989–1991
Rwanda 1965–1973, 1975-1991 São Tomé and Príncipe 1975–1990
Senegal 1966–1974 Seychelles 1977–1991
Sierra Leone 1978–1991 Somalia 1976–1991
Sudan 1971–1985, 1989–2005 Tanzania 1977–1992
Tanganyika 1961–1977 Zanzibar 1964–1977
Togo 1962–1963, 1969–1991 Uganda 1969–1971
Zambia 1972–1990 Some Middle Eastern and North African
states; Algeria 1962–1989
Egypt 1956–1958 and 1961–1962, 1962–1976 Iran 1975–1978, 1981–1987
Iraq 1964–1968, 1968–2003 Libya 1971–1977
North Yemen 1982–1988 South Yemen 1978–1990
Syria 1953–1954, 1963–2012 Tunisia 1963–1964, 1964–1981
Turkey 1924–1950 United Arab Republic 1958–1961
One state in Central Asia; Turkmenistan 1991–2012 1992–2008
One state in South Asia; Bangladesh 1974–1975
Two states in Southeast Asia; Burma 1964–1988
Indonesia August 18 - September 1, 1945 The former Soviet Union, Warsaw
Pact-States and other Communist states; Afghanistan 1978–1992
Albania 1944–1991 Bulgaria 1946–1990
Cambodia 1975–1979, 1979-1993 Czechoslovakia 1948–1989
East Germany 1949–1989 Grenada 1979–1983
Hungary 1948–1956, 1956–1989 Mongolia 1921–1990
North Vietnam 1945–1976 Poland 1947–1948 1948–1989
Romania 1947–1948 1947–1989 Soviet Union 1922–1990
Yugoslavia 1945–1990 Several nationalist and fascist states;
Afghanistan 1974–1978 Austria 1934–1938
Belgium 1940–1944 Bulgaria 1934–1944
Republic of China 1928–1948 NDH April 11, 1941 – May 10, 1945
Dominican Republic 1931–1961 France 1940-1944
Nazi Germany July 1933 – May1945 Haiti 1957–1985
Hungary 1944–1945 Italy 1922–1943 and Italian Social
Republic 1943–1945 Japan 1938-1945
Latvia 1941 Lithuania 1941
Manchukuo 1932–1940 1940–1945 Norway 1940–1945 1942-1945
Paraguay 1947–1962 Philippines 1943–1945
Portugal 1933–1945 1937–1943, 1948–1974 Romania 1938–1940, 1940–1944
San Marino 1926–1943, 1944 Slovakia 1939–1945
Spain 1924–1930 and Spain 1938–1975 Ukraine 1941
See also 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 Notes
External links Map of One Party States, 1945-95
Single party states in Africa List of One-Party Regimes