Types of State

• Democracy

  Characterised by free and fair elections in which governments are accountable to the public. Legitimacy through consent of the people.
• Democracies impact on global order.

  Relationships among democracies - Typically friendly and cooperative, often allies, disputes resolved diplomatically.

  Relationships with non democracies - More tense, trade often still flows, disputes sometimes violent.

  Approach to values - Often emphasise discussion, rights protections, rule of law. Will use force if in their interest.

  Notable positions - Russia and China have veto power in UNSC.
• Semi Democratic

  A state that possesses features of a democracy but has underlying authoritarianism. Limited rule of law.
• Non Democratic

  An autocratic or authoritarian state, in which power is either concentrated in an individual or a select few.

  Media and judicial freedom is non existent.

  Russia - Rumored election fraud and rigging, once partially democratic - now dictatorial. Power centralised in Putin.
• Failed State

  A state whose government is no longer able to protect its citizens. Law, order and government have collapsed, and the economy no longer functions.
• Democratic Republic of Congo Failed State Case Study

  A country characterised by civil war, ending President Mobutu Sese Soko's tenure as a dictator in 1996.

  Suffers from significant ethnic and provincial divides, exacerbated by Belgian coloniasim.

  Unstable relationships with Rwanda and Uganda, both of which have poor histories of human rights abuses.

  Corruption is rife, both at the highest level of authority and in the lower echelons, with militias being prominent.

  Cases of rape as a weapon of war and recruitment of child soldiers.

  Exploited by colonial powers for resources.