Politics

Bobby Jindal 2016 presidential campaign Overview of Bobby Jindal’s 2016 bid for the Republican presidential nomination: launch, themes, organization, performance in debates and primaries, and reasons for its early end.

Bodo nationalism: movement for identity and autonomy in Assam Bodo nationalism Bodo nationalism is a political and cultural movement among the Bodo people seeking self-determination, protection of language and land rights, and varying degrees of autonomy with…

Bolsheviks (Russian revolutionary faction) Bolshevik Bolsheviks were the radical wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party led by Lenin. They favored a disciplined vanguard, seized power in 1917 and became the core of the So…

Border Ruffians: Pro-slavery Activists in the Kansas–Missouri Conflict Border Ruffian Armed pro‑slavery men from Missouri who entered Kansas Territory (1854–1860) to influence slavery’s fate. Their intimidation, election fraud and raids escalated the 'Bleeding Kansa…

Bournemouth West (UK Parliament constituency) A UK parliamentary constituency covering the western part of Bournemouth. Created mid-20th century, it returns one MP by first-past-the-post and has been a Conservative seat in rec…

Boycott: collective refusal to buy, sell, or engage for social or political aims Boycott A boycott is an organized refusal to transact with a business, institution or country to pressure change. This article explains types, origins, effects, notable history and legal/e…

Brexit: the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union Brexit Brexit is the process by which the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union after a 2016 referendum, formal Article 50 notification, prolonged negotiations and a 2020 Trade…

Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviet policy of intervention in socialist states Brezhnev Doctrine Soviet-era policy asserting the USSR's right to intervene militarily in socialist countries to preserve Communist rule; formalized after 1968 and effectively abandoned during the G…

British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) British Columbia New Democratic Party Provincial centre-left party in British Columbia, Canada. Social democratic tradition, affiliated with the federal NDP, has governed the province at various times including since 2…

British National Party: history, ideology, and political impact British National Party Overview of the British National Party (BNP): its origins, leadership, ideology, electoral history, controversies, and role in UK politics.

Broad Front (Frente Amplio) — Uruguayan political coalition Broad Front (Uruguay) Broad Front (Frente Amplio) is a Uruguay centre-left to left-wing coalition founded in 1971. It governed nationally from 2005–2019 and is known for progressive social reforms and t…

Bulgarian Communist Party The Marxist–Leninist party that governed Bulgaria from the post‑war takeover until 1990; led by Todor Zhivkov for most of the period and transformed into the Bulgarian Socialist Pa…

By-election (special election): purpose, causes and international variations By-election A by-election fills a vacant seat between general elections. This article outlines why by-elections occur, how they differ from other contests, international names and procedures,…

Campaign (organized effort) Campaign An organized, goal-driven series of actions by a group or organization. Covers military, political, commercial, and social campaigns; explains components, history, uses, and key di…

Campaign Finance Reform in the United States Overview of U.S. campaign finance reform: goals, major laws and court rulings, common reform proposals, examples of practices, and distinctions among PACs, Super PACs, and dark‑mon…

Candidate (nominee): meaning, roles, history and common contexts Candidate A candidate or nominee is a person or thing being considered for selection. This article explains uses in elections, jobs, awards, problem‑solving and other contexts, with origins…

Capitalist Party (Liberalistene) — Norway’s classical‑liberal political party Capitalist Party Norwegian party Liberalistene, often called the Capitalist Party in English, advocates classical liberalism: minimal government, individual liberty, private property and free marke…

Carly Fiorina 2016 presidential campaign The Republican campaign launched by Carly Fiorina on May 4, 2015. Fiorina, a former Hewlett‑Packard CEO and 2010 Senate nominee, ran from Merrifield, Virginia and suspended her bid…

Carola Schouten: Dutch politician and ChristianUnion leader Carola Schouten Overview of Cornelia Johanna 'Carola' Schouten, her background, political career with the ChristianUnion, ministerial roles, policy priorities and personal background.

Carpetbagger (U.S. historical and political term) Carpetbagger Carpetbagger: originally a post–Civil War label for Northerners who moved to the Reconstruction-era South; now a pejorative for outside political opportunists or “parachute” candid…

Catalan independence movement A political and social movement advocating independence for Catalonia (and related Catalan-speaking territories), based on language, history and regional institutions, notable for…

Caucus: political meeting, nomination process, and legislative group Caucus A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement used to select candidates, set policy, or organize lawmakers; practices vary by country and politica…

Center-right politics: principles, history, and contemporary forms Center-right Center-right denotes political positions that lean toward conservative or market-oriented policies while often accepting moderate social programs and pragmatic governance.

Central Committee (party governing body) Central Committee A Central Committee is a governing group within political parties that sets policy, elects leadership and supervises party organs; its powers vary from internal coordination to sup…

Centre (politics): Understanding Centrism and the Political Middle Centre (politics) Centrism is a political stance that seeks moderate, pragmatic solutions between left and right. It balances market and social policies, emphasizes compromise, and appears in partie…

Centre Alliance: Australian centrist party from South Australia Centre Alliance Centre Alliance, formerly the Nick Xenophon Team, is a South Australian-centred centrist political party in Australia with a history of crossbench influence and a focus on regional…

Centre-left politics Centre-left Centre-left denotes a political orientation that blends left-leaning social goals with pragmatic, moderate approaches to markets and governance—commonly associated with social demo…

Chairperson of the African Union: role, election, and significance Chairperson of the African Union Overview of the Chairperson of the African Union, covering election rules, duties, historical background, relationship to other AU bodies, and the office's symbolic and practical i…

Chamber of Deputies (Romania) The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of Romania’s bicameral parliament, composed of deputies elected by proportional representation and including reserved seats for national…

Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic The Chamber of Deputies is the 200‑member lower house of the Czech Parliament. It drafts and passes laws, controls the government, approves the budget and is elected for four‑year…

Chris Christie 2016 presidential campaign Overview of Chris Christie's 2016 presidential bid: announcement, themes, challenges including Bridgegate, withdrawal, and the campaign's legacy in the Republican primary.

Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams (CD&V) Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams CD&V is a Flemish Christian-democratic political party in Belgium, focused on social market policies, family and community values, with a long history in Belgian coalition politics…

Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) Christian Democratic Appeal Dutch Christian-democratic party formed in 1980 from three confessional parties; traditionally influential in coalition governments, pro-European, socially moderate and focused on…

Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) Christian Democratic Union of Germany Major centre-right German political party founded after WWII, promoting Christian democracy, a social market economy and European integration; closely allied with Bavaria's CSU.

Christian Democrats (Sweden) Kristdemokraterna (KD) is a Swedish Christian democratic party founded in 1964. It emphasizes family policy, eldercare, choice in welfare services and a market economy combined wit…

Christian right (religious right in the United States) Christian right A conservative political tendency that seeks to apply Christian beliefs to public policy. Prominent in the United States, it emphasizes social conservatism, religious liberty claim…

Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union (CSU) is a regional conservative political party active only in Bavaria. It is the CDU/CSU's Bavarian sister party and a major force in German centre‑rig…

Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania) Romanian centre-right party grounded in Christian democracy and agrarian tradition, successor to the interwar National Peasants' Party; important in post-1989 politics and later re…

ChristianUnion (ChristenUnie) — Dutch Christian democratic party ChristianUnion ChristianUnion (ChristenUnie) is a Protestant-oriented Christian democratic party in the Netherlands, formed in 2001. It mixes socially conservative moral views with progressive so…

Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska): Poland's centre-right, pro‑European party Civic Platform Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska) is a major Polish political party known for its pro‑European stance, market-friendly policies and strong support in urban areas of northern a…

Civic Solidarity Party (Azerbaijan) Civic Solidarity Party A centre‑right political party founded in 1992 in Azerbaijan. The Civic Solidarity Party emphasizes civic values, national identity and conservative social policies and holds a sma…

Civil Rights Movement (United States) Civil Rights Movement Mid-20th-century movement in the United States that challenged racial segregation and discrimination, using legal action, mass nonviolent protest and political advocacy to secure e…

Classical liberalism: principles, history, and influence Classical liberalism Classical liberalism is a political and economic outlook that emphasizes individual liberty, limited government, rule of law, private property and free markets, rooted in Enlighten…

Client state A client state is a polity whose sovereignty is limited by domination of a more powerful state. It covers forms of dependence such as protectorates, satellite states, and tributary…

Co-operative Party (United Kingdom) Co-operative Party A small centre-left British party promoting co‑operative enterprise and values, operating in electoral partnership with the Labour Party under the Labour and Co-operative label.

Liberal–National Coalition (Australia) Coalition (Australia) Centre-right alliance of the Liberal and National parties in Australian federal politics, forming one of the two major groupings and alternating in government with the Labor Party.

Cold War Prolonged geopolitical, ideological and military rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union from the end of World War II to the early 1990s.

Commodus: Roman emperor and controversial successor (161–192) Commodus Commodus, Roman emperor from 177 to 192 CE, co-ruled with Marcus Aurelius, became sole ruler in 180, and is remembered for political excesses, gladiatorial displays, and a violent…