Summary
Contents
Countries A-Z
Political & Electoral Systems
Intergovernmental Organisations
The most coverage with the most depth - at a price you can’t beat! No other resource matches the timely, thorough, and accurate political information provided by CQ Press’s best-selling Political Handbook of the World. With more in-depth coverage of current political controversies than any other reference guide, Political Handbook of the World 2011 is the most authoritative source for finding complete facts and analysis on each country’s governmental and political makeup. Featuring 200 entries on countries and territories throughout the world, this volume is renowned for its extensive coverage of all major and minor political parties and groups in each political system. It also provides names of key ambassadors and international memberships of each country, plus detailed profiles of more than 120 intergovernmental organizations and UN agencies. This comprehensive, one-volume source for political information has been updated to include coverage of: Key Features • Presents the annual activity for more than 70 intergovernmental organizations • Captures recent changes in national political regimes • Profiles the current issues and controversies for all the nations of the world.
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Regime Type
icon angle down-
democracy
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Colombia
- Comoro Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Zambia
-
dictatorship
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Cuba
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- People’s Republic of China
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
-
-
Democracy Type
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semi-democracy
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Central African Republic
- Colombia
- Comoro Islands
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Russia
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Zambia
-
non-democracy
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brunei
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Cuba
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Oman
- Pakistan
- People’s Republic of China
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
-
newer democracy
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Marshall Islands
- Mongolia
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Palau
- Panama
- Poland
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
-
older democracy
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United Kingdom
- United States
-
-
Freedom House Rating
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not free
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Brunei
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Cuba
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Laos
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Oman
- People’s Republic of China
- Qatar
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
-
partly free
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Colombia
- Comoro Islands
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Kenya
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Tonga
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Zambia
-
free
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
-
-
Election System
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majoritarian
- Afghanistan
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Botswana
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Comoro Islands
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Haiti
- India
- Iran
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mongolia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
combined
- Albania
- Andorra
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bolivia
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Cameroon
- Chad
- China: Taiwan
- Djibouti
- Georgia
- Germany
- Guinea
- Hungary
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Lesotho
- Lithuania
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Somaliland
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
-
proportional representation (pr)
- Algeria
- Angola
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Finland
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Uruguay
-
no elections
-
not rated
-
-
Election Rules
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single non-transferable vote
-
mixed member proportional system
-
list proportional representation
- Algeria
- Angola
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Finland
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Rwanda
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Uruguay
-
parallel systems
-
first past the post
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Canada
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Nepal
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Palau
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Somaliland
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
alternative vote
-
two round system
-
no free elections
-
party bloc vote
-
single transferable vote
-
block vote
-
not rated
-
-
Party System
icon angle down-
multi party-hyper competitive
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Armenia
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- Germany
- Hungary
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Sierra Leone
- Slovakia
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- Venezuela
-
multi party-limited competition
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Chad
- China: Taiwan
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Fiji
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Paraguay
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sudan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
-
two party
-
not rated
-
one party
-
-
System of Government
icon angle down-
unitary
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Benin
- Bolivia
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- CÔTe D’Ivoire
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China: Taiwan
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Nauru
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Qatar
- Republic of Korea
- Romania
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sri Lanka
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste (East Timor)
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
federal
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Colombia
- Comoro Islands
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- India
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Japan
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Netherlands
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- People’s Republic of China
- Portugal
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- Spain
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- Sudan
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom: Northern Ireland
- United States
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
-
- African Union (AU)
- Arab League
- Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- Council of Europe
- Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- Group of Seven/Group of Eight
- Group of Twenty
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
- International Organization for Migration (IOM)
- Nonaligned Movement
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
- Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
- Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
- Regional Development Banks
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur/Mercosul)
- The Commonwealth
- The European Union (EU)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations: Related Organization
- United Nations: Specialized Agencies
- Western European Union (WEU)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)