Government Structure Impact on Society Impact on Human Rights Democracy • Grants more freedom in society • Stronger protections for minority groups • Stronger protections for traditional social institutions • Citizens can freely elect their governmental representatives, who themselves are citizens of the same country • Equal access to voting, free elections, freedom of speech and press • Rights that are protected from government limitations Social Democracy • Public ownership and cooperative ownership of property • Broad participation of citizens in governance • Presence of workers’ unions • Rights of citizens in social democracies vary based on individual countries’ constitutions • Access to free health care and education Totalitarian • Little or no civic activity in society • Traditional social institutions are undermined • Members of society, in particular minority groups, face threat of violence • No freedom of speech or the press • People may not speak out against the government • Individual freedoms are largely restricted Theocracy • Members of other religious groups do not receive equal treatment • Freedoms related to reproductive and marriage choice are often restricted • People do not have religious freedom • People can’t vote on governmental decisions Write 1–2 sentences that synthesize the impact diverse government structures have on society and human right
Diverse government structures can have varied impacts on society and human rights, with democracy generally granting more freedom and protection, social democracy emphasizing public participation and social welfare, totalitarian systems restricting individual freedoms, and theocracies often limiting religious and personal freedoms.
