Politics

Super Tuesday (U.S. presidential primary day) Super Tuesday Super Tuesday is the day in early presidential primary season when the largest number of U.S. states hold nominating contests, often deciding momentum and a large share of delegate…

Swatantra Party (India) — classical liberal party founded 1959 Swatantra Party Indian classical‑liberal political party founded by C. Rajagopalachari in 1959 to oppose Nehruvian statism; peaked in the 1960s, declined after 1971 and dispersed into other anti‑C…

Sweden Democrats A Swedish political party founded in 1988, known for its nationalist and right‑wing populist positions, steady electoral growth, and a longstanding debate over cooperation with oth…

Swedish Social Democratic Party Comprehensive overview of the Swedish Social Democratic Party: origins, ideology, organisation, history, notable leaders and its role in shaping Sweden's welfare state.

Swing vote A swing vote is a choice by a voter who does not reliably support one party; it can determine election outcomes and shapes campaign strategy in many systems.

Ta'al (Arab Movement for Renewal) — Israeli Arab political party Ta'al Ta'al is an Israeli Arab political party founded in the 1990s. Led by Ahmad Tibi, it focuses on civil equality, Arab national rights and pragmatic participation in Knesset politics…

Tamil Eelam — proposed Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka Tamil Eelam Tamil Eelam is the term for a proposed independent or autonomous Tamil state in parts of Sri Lanka. It emerged from 20th‑century Tamil nationalism and was central to the island's c…

Tea Party movement (United States conservative and libertarian grassroots movement) Tea Party movement A political movement that emerged in the U.S. in 2009 emphasizing limited government, lower taxes, fiscal restraint and a strict constitutionalist perspective; decentralized and co…

Teachta Dála (TD): member of Dáil Éireann in Ireland Teachta Dála A Teachta Dála (TD) is an elected representative in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament, responsible for legislation, government scrutiny and constituency represe…

Ted Cruz 2016 presidential campaign Overview of Senator Ted Cruz’s 2016 bid for the Republican presidential nomination: launch, themes, primary performance, strategy, controversies, and its consequences for conservat…

Tehrik-e-Istiqlal: Pakistani political party founded by Asghar Khan Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Tehrik-e-Istiqlal was a Pakistani political party established in 1970 by Air Marshal (retd.) Asghar Khan. It promoted non‑sectarian, merit‑based politics and merged into Pakistan T…

Temperance movement: history, aims, and legacy Temperance movement Social and political movement advocating reduced alcohol use or abstinence; influential in 19th–20th century reforms and led to national Prohibition efforts and ongoing local and c…

Territorial integrity (principle of state sovereignty) Territorial integrity Territorial integrity is the principle that a state's borders should not be changed by force or coercion; it underpins modern international order and limits foreign interference in…

The Blue Party (Germany): short-lived conservative breakaway from Alternative for Germany The Blue Party (Germany) The Blue Party (Die blaue Partei), a short-lived conservative breakaway from Alternative for Germany formed in 2017, promoted eurosceptic and stricter immigration policies and was…

The Greens – The Green Alternative (Austria) The Greens – The Green Alternative Austrian political party founded in 1993, commonly called the Greens. Center-left, focused on environmental sustainability, social justice and pro-European policies; member of the…

The Hill (American political newspaper) The Hill (newspaper) The Hill is a Washington, D.C.-based political news outlet founded in 1994. It covers Congress, the White House, federal campaigns, policy and business, publishing print and digita…

The Left (Germany) — Die Linke, a democratic socialist party The Left (Germany) Die Linke (The Left) is a democratic socialist party in Germany formed in 2007 from a merger of PDS and WASG; active in state governments and European left alliances, with diverse…

The Prince — Niccolò Machiavelli's treatise on power and statecraft The Prince A concise encyclopedic article on Machiavelli's The Prince: its content, context, major themes, publication history, influence, and enduring debates about morality and political re…

The Squad (United States Congress) Informal name for a group of progressive U.S. House members elected in 2018 and 2020, known for their youth, diversity, and high-profile advocacy within the Democratic Party.

There You Go Again (political catchphrase) There you go again Memorable retort spoken by Ronald Reagan during the 1980 presidential campaign debate, used to deflect criticism and later cited as a classic example of debate rhetoric and politic…

Third Estate (Ancien Régime social class) Third Estate The Third Estate was the broad body of commoners under the Ancien Régime whose economic burdens, social diversity, and political exclusion—especially in late‑18th‑century France—he…

Third party (politics) A third party is a political organization outside the two dominant parties in a two-party system. This article explains definitions, roles, history, electoral effects, and how voti…

Third Party System (United States, c.1854–mid-1890s) Third Party System A period in U.S. political history from about 1854 to the mid-1890s defined by Republican emergence, the Civil War and Reconstruction, intense party loyalty, machine politics, and…

Tim Ryan's 2020 U.S. presidential campaign Tim Ryan 2020 presidential campaign Summary of U.S. Representative Tim Ryan’s 2020 Democratic presidential bid: goals, platform emphasis on working-class issues, timeline from April 4, 2019 launch to October 24, 2019…

Timocracy: government by property-holders or rule motivated by honour Timocracy Timocracy is a political system in which political rights or power are linked to property ownership or to values of honour and military virtue. The term dates to classical Greece a…

TOP 09 — Czech centre‑right political party TOP 09 TOP 09 is a Czech centre‑right, pro‑European political party founded in 2009, advocating fiscal responsibility, liberal conservatism and strong ties with European institutions.

Tories: origins, ideology and evolution into the Conservative tradition Tories Tories were one of Britain’s main political groupings from the late 17th to the early 19th century, identified with monarchy, the Church of England and landed interests; they evolv…

Totalitarianism: Overview, Characteristics, History, and Notable Examples Totalitarianism A concise encyclopedia entry describing totalitarianism: defining features, historical development, notable examples, distinctions from authoritarianism, and its social and politic…

Tourism (functional constituency, Hong Kong) Tourism (constituency) A Hong Kong Legislative Council functional constituency created in 1998 that represents the tourism industry; its electorate is made up of tourism trade associations and corporate…

Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) Traditional Unionist Voice Northern Ireland unionist party founded in 2007. Right-leaning and socially conservative, the TUV advocates retention of the union with the UK and presents a more hardline unionist…

Treaty of Berlin (1926) A five-year neutrality pact signed on 24 April 1926 between Germany and the Soviet Union that reaffirmed diplomatic ties and sought to secure each side against third-party attack.

Tributary state A tributary state is a pre-modern polity that acknowledged the supremacy of a more powerful neighbour by regular payments or symbolic submission, distinct from modern client or sat…

Trotskyism: theory, history, and contemporary influence Trotskyism Trotskyism is a Marxist current based on Leon Trotsky's ideas, emphasizing international revolution, workers' democracy, and opposition to Stalinism. This article explains its doct…

Trump peace plan (Peace to Prosperity) Trump peace plan U.S. administration proposal announced in 2019–2020 to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Known as 'Peace to Prosperity', it combined economic initiatives and political prop…

Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution Amendment XX (ratified 1933) shortened transitions in federal government, moved presidential and congressional start dates to January, and provided procedures for vacancies and con…

Two-nation theory: origins, interpretations and legacy Two-nation theory A summary of the two-nation theory: its core claim that Hindus and Muslims formed distinct nations in British India, its historical development, competing interpretations, criticis…

Ujamaa: Tanzanian Socialism and the Idea of Familyhood Ujamaa Ujamaa is a post‑colonial African socialist concept promoted by Julius Nyerere emphasizing familyhood, communal cooperation, self‑reliance and rural development, most visibly enact…

UK Independence Party (UKIP) UK Independence Party A British political party known for its Euroscepticism and national-conservative policies, founded in 1993 and influential in the politics leading to the UK’s EU referendum.

Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ukrainian SSR) Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic A republic of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991, the Ukrainian SSR was a major industrial and agricultural region, a UN founding member, and the predecessor state of modern Ukrain…

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Ulster Unionist Party A centre-right unionist political party in Northern Ireland advocating continued union with the UK, historically dominant in unionist politics and influential in the peace process…

Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) Union for a Popular Movement Centre-right French political party founded in 2002 to unite right and centre forces; prominent in government and parliament until a 2015 rebranding as The Republicans.

Union of the Democratic Centre (Spain) Centrist political coalition and later party in Spain (1977–1983) that led the transition to democracy under Adolfo Suárez and played a key role in drafting the 1978 Constitution.

Unionist Party (Punjab) A secular agrarian political party in British India's Punjab, founded in 1923 to represent rural landlords across religious communities. It led Punjab government in the late 1930s…

United Left (Spain) United Left (Izquierda Unida) is a Spanish left-wing coalition founded in 1986. Anchored by the Communist Party of Spain, it has pursued anti-austerity, social justice and cooperat…

United National Independence Party (UNIP) United National Independence Party Zambia's principal independence-era political party, led by Kenneth Kaunda, which governed from 1964–1991 and was the country's sole legal party for part of that period.

United Party of Canada Canadian centrist party that emphasizes accessible college and trade education and a transition to renewable energy, promoting practical, moderate policy solutions.

United Russia United Russia is the largest political party in the Russian Federation, formed in 2001. It is commonly described as a centrist, conservative, catch-all party that has dominated nat…

United States presidential election Every four years, U.S. citizens indirectly choose the President and Vice President through a national vote for electors, the Electoral College, and constitutionally defined conting…