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Forms of Government

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Mastering Sociology

Part of the book series: Macmillan Master Series ((MACMMA))

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Abstract

Totalitarian governments are the usual forms of government both in the past and in the modern world. Essentially a totalitarian state is a country controlled by one man — ‘an autocracy’, or a group — ‘an oligarchy’. Because the power of any state rests ultimately on its armed forces those filling key roles in totalitarian states are very often members of the military.

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© 1988 Gerard O’Donnell

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O’Donnell, G. (1988). Forms of Government. In: Mastering Sociology. Macmillan Master Series. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10247-1_24

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