One-party state

A state in which one political party monopolizes government power while other parties are banned or cannot compete meaningfully.

Dominant-party system: A multiparty system in which one party repeatedly wins elections and governs for extended periods. Unlike a one-party state, opposition parties remain legal and can contest elections.
People's Republic of China: A state established in 1949 and governed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is a contemporary example of a ruling party monopolizing national political power.
Vanguard party: A tightly organized political party that claims to lead a revolutionary movement on behalf of a class. This model supplied a rationale for a single party to claim exclusive political leadership.
Totalitarianism: A political system seeking extensive control over public and private life through ideology, coercion, and mobilization. A one-party state describes party competition, while totalitarianism describes a broader ambition of control.
Political legitimacy: The belief that a government has the right to rule and that its authority deserves recognition. One-party governments often ground legitimacy in performance, ideology, or national unity rather than electoral rivalry.
Political repression: The use of state power to restrict political opposition, dissent, or participation. Repression can prevent rivals from competing or organizing against the ruling party.
Cuba: A Caribbean state governed by the Communist Party of Cuba under a socialist constitutional system. Its constitution identifies the Communist Party as the leading political force.
Leninism: A revolutionary political theory emphasizing a disciplined vanguard party and centralized leadership. Leninist organization shaped several states that established communist party monopolies.
Military dictatorship: An authoritarian regime in which military officers or institutions hold governing power. Military rulers may suppress parties without making a single party the source of state authority.
Political succession: The process by which political leadership passes from one officeholder or governing group to another. With no opposition poised to govern, succession depends heavily on ruling-party rules and elite bargains.

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