One-party dominant state facts for kids

A one-party dominant state is a country where one political party wins elections again and again by a very large amount. This party is so strong that it doesn't need to team up with smaller parties to run the government.

This system is different from a one-party state. In a one-party state, only one party is allowed by law. But in a one-party dominant state, other political parties are allowed to exist. However, these other parties usually don't have a real chance to win power.

Some one-party dominant states are true democracies. In these countries, there are no laws stopping other parties from competing fairly. But many one-party dominant states are more like dictatorships. Even if they hold elections, the ruling party often controls things very tightly.

Examples of One-Party Dominant States

Mexico's Long Rule

For example, in Mexico, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was in charge for over 70 years. The people running for President from the PRI were elected many times in a row. This showed how strong and dominant the party was for a very long time.

South Africa's Political Shift

In South Africa, the National Party of South Africa ruled from 1948 to 1994. During this time, they enforced apartheid, which was a system of unfair separation.

After 1994, South Africa became more democratic. Nelson Mandela was elected, and the African National Congress (ANC) became the ruling party. The ANC has won every election since then, showing its strong dominance in the country's politics.

How Dominant Parties Stay in Power

In one-party dominant states that are more like dictatorships, the ruling party often uses unfair methods to stay in power. They might use electoral fraud, which means cheating in elections. They might also use gerrymandering. This is when election areas are drawn in a way that helps one party win more easily.

Sometimes, these ruling parties also try to stop or silence the other parties. This can make the whole system seem unfair. When a ruling party uses these methods, it can make people question if the government is truly fair and legitimate.

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