Key Political and Economic Systems: Definitions

Key Political and Economic Systems

Anarchism

A doctrine that calls for the disappearance of the state and of all power.

Ancien Régime

The economic, social, and political system that came from the decomposition of medieval feudalism and remained in effect in Europe until the Industrial Revolution and the liberal revolutions.

Bolshevik

The revolution maintained that the bourgeoisie had to have a socialist character and be led by the proletariat.

Bourgeoisie

A social class formed especially of traders, artisans, and free people who were not subject to feudal lords.

Concentration Camps

Camps where the population was undernourished and forced into hard labor, where over time they died.

Capitalism

A system in which the instruments of production were privately owned, while the proletariat had only their labor, which they sold for a wage.

Communism

A doctrine that advocates for a social organization with commonly owned property.

Constitution

The fundamental law of a state which defines the basic system of rights and freedoms of citizens and the powers and institutions of the organization.

Crisis of 1929

The U.S. economic crisis began, which provoked a withdrawal from the various economies.

Duma

The main body that imposed a provisional government that promised political and social reforms, and a constituent assembly.

Red Army

The revolutionary army after Ukraine's victory in 1921 was declared the winner of the Civil War.

Fascism

The political and social model of a totalitarian character established in Italy by Mussolini's initiative after World War I.

Physiocracy

An economic system that attributed the source of wealth to nature.

Enlightenment

A philosophical and cultural movement of the eighteenth century that emphasized the predominance of human reason and the belief in human progress.

Imperialism

A system in which culture, politics, and the world economy are organized according to the domain of some countries over others.

Leninism

Lenin's doctrine, who, based on Marxism, promoted and led the Soviet Revolution and laid the foundations of Soviet communism.

Political Liberalism

A doctrine that advocated the parliamentary system, the separation of powers, and believed that authority could only come from the nation of equal citizens.

Marxism

A doctrine derived from the theories of German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, consisting of interpreting Hegel's idealism and dialectical materialism, and who helped achieve a classless society.

Mercantilism

An economic system that caters primarily to the development of trade, which consisted of monitoring the industry, mainly to export, and considers the position of precious metals as a sign of wealth.

Labor Movement

A movement that called for new living and working conditions for workers resulting from the development of capitalism. Workers' societies led a struggle for labor claims and public rights.

Nation

The persons of the same country, generally speaking the same language, and having a common tradition governed by the same government.

Nazism

The political and social model of a totalitarian nature that occurred in Germany on the initiative of Hitler after World War I.

NEP (New Economic Policy)

A new economic policy aimed to quickly increase production and improve the population's lives.

UN (United Nations)

The United Nations was created to ensure peace.

Proletariat

A social class consisting of the proletariat (belonging to the working class). It was the most disadvantaged and exploited.

Protectionism

An economic policy that restricts the entry into a country of foreign products that compete with national products.

French Revolution

An event that ended the absolute monarchy and created a new social and political system, which changed the mindset of people and spread to Europe.

Industrial Revolution

A set of changes that allowed Great Britain to become the industrial and financial center of the world.

Utopian Socialism

A political group defending dignity, collective solidarity, and moral principles. They developed projects for companies with desired ideals of social equality.

Stratified Society

A society divided into estates (clergy, nobility, and commons).

Stalinism

Stalin's doctrine was the proponent of the Marxist idea of permanent revolution. He opposed the NEP and the retreat of the revolution, and defended the need to export the revolution.

Universal Suffrage

The right to vote for all adults, regardless of sex, race, or social status.

Treaty of Versailles

A treaty that stipulated the fate that Germany should run. The German Empire gave part of its territory to France, and its colonies were divided among the victors.