Politics

Domestic partnership A domestic partnership is a recognized cohabiting relationship between two adults that can create limited legal rights and responsibilities distinct from marriage or civil unions.

Donald Trump’s 2016 Presidential Campaign Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign The businessman's insurgent 2016 campaign for the U.S. presidency, its themes, organization, controversies, and the election outcome that led to his victory on November 8, 2016.

Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign Overview of Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign: themes, organization, events, and aftermath — a contested general election that resulted in Joe Biden's victory and the end of…

Donetsk People's Republic: origins, status, and role in the Donbas conflict Donetsk People's Republic Overview of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR): its emergence in 2014, territorial and administrative claims in eastern Ukraine, governance, international recognition, and role in…

Donkey vote A donkey vote is when a voter ranks or marks candidates in the same order they appear on the ballot. It is common in preferential systems and can advantage top-listed names; mitiga…

Down to the Countryside Movement A mass policy during China's Cultural Revolution that sent urban youth to rural areas for ideological education and labor, affecting millions and leaving a long social and cultural…

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Major regional political party in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, founded in 1949 and central to the Dravidian movement. Advocates social justice, Tamil identity, secularism and state a…

East of England (European Parliament constituency) Regional constituency used to elect Members of the European Parliament for the East of England region; created in 1999, it used party-list proportional representation and returned…

Eastern Bloc (Cold War-era Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe) Eastern Bloc Soviet-aligned group of Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe after WWII: structure, institutions, major events, member relations, economy and the political legacy of the…

Ecclesiastical polity: Church governance and organizational systems Ecclesiastical polity Ecclesiastical polity is the system by which a Christian church organizes authority, ministry, and decision-making. Covers major forms, historical development, functions, and conte…

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) — South African political party Economic Freedom Fighters South African left-wing political party founded in 2013 by Julius Malema. Advocates radical economic transformation, land reform and nationalisation; notable for confrontational st…

Election: Purpose, Systems, History, and Global Variations Election An election is the formal process people use to choose leaders or express preferences. This article summarizes types of elections, electoral systems, administration, challenges, ex…

Elections in North Korea Overview of how elections are organized in North Korea, their legal framework, typical procedures, historical background, functions within the political system, and international p…

Elector of the Palatinate Senior princely title in the Holy Roman Empire; rulers of the Electoral Palatinate on the Rhine who held one of the votes to elect the emperor (traditionally dated ca. 915–1803).

Electoral college: concept, forms, history and contemporary debates Electoral college An electoral college is a body of selected electors who formally choose officeholders. This article explains the concept, typical structures, historical examples, major uses, and c…

Electoral district (Canada) An electoral district in Canada, often called a riding or circonscription, is a geographic area represented by a single legislator at federal, provincial or territorial level.

Electoral fraud: forms, impacts, and prevention Electoral fraud Overview of electoral fraud: what it is, common methods, historical and modern contexts, consequences for democratic legitimacy, and measures for detection, prevention, and remedy.

Electorate: the people who choose public representatives Electorate The electorate comprises the eligible voting population in a polity. This article explains meanings, eligibility, historical expansion of suffrage, varieties of electorates, and wh…

Elizabeth Warren 2020 presidential campaign Overview of Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination: timeline, policy agenda, campaign organization, primary performance, and aftermath.

Elmet (UK Parliament constituency) Elmet was a county constituency in West Yorkshire represented in the UK House of Commons from 1983 to 2010, covering eastern Leeds suburbs and neighbouring towns; it returned one M…

En unión y libertad — Argentina's national motto En unión y libertad Spanish phrase meaning “In unity and freedom,” adopted during Argentina’s independence era (1813). It appears on the national coat of arms, currency and official symbols and expres…

Eric Swalwell's 2020 presidential campaign Eric Swalwell 2020 presidential campaign Overview of Representative Eric Swalwell's brief 2020 Democratic presidential campaign: announcement, themes, significance as a millennial candidate, and reasons for its July 2019…

Espionage: definition, methods, history, and legal issues Espionage Espionage (spying) is the clandestine collection of confidential information for political, military, or commercial advantage. This article outlines methods, history, uses, and leg…

Euroscepticism: Critiques, History, and Political Impact Euroscepticism Overview of euroscepticism: its meanings, key arguments, historical development, political effects (including Brexit), and how it differs from anti-European sentiment.

Evil Empire (Cold War term popularized by Ronald Reagan) Evil empire A Cold War political label popularized by U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1983 to describe the Soviet Union and its satellite system; it framed U.S. policy debates on arms, ideolog…

Exile: definition, forms, history, and social effects Exile Exile is forced or voluntary removal from one’s home or country. This article explains types of exile, historical examples, legal context, personal and societal impacts, and distin…

Extremism: Definition, Characteristics, Legal Responses, and Distinctions Extremism An overview of extremism: beliefs or actions far outside a society’s political or moral norms, with common traits, legal and social responses, examples, and how it differs from rad…

Faction: groups, factionalism, and related uses Faction A faction is a subset within a larger group that shares interests or aims. This article explains meanings, causes and effects of factionalism, historical roles, cultural uses, and…

Far-right politics: ideology, history, and contemporary forms Far-right politics Survey of far-right politics: major ideas, historical development, variations worldwide, social impacts, and legal and political responses to extremist movements.

Federalism: Division of Power between Central and Constituent Governments Federalism Federalism is a system that divides governing authority between a central government and constituent political units, combining shared responsibilities with regional autonomy and l…

Federalist Party (United States, 1792–1816) Federalist Party Early American political party that promoted a strong national government, a commercial economy and a centralized financial system; dominant in the 1790s and weakened after 1812.

Fianna Fáil: History and Political Role in the Republic of Ireland Fianna Fáil History and political role of Fianna Fáil, founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926: its republican roots, evolution into a centre-to-centre-right catch-all party and its long influence…

Fidesz — Hungarian Civic Alliance Fidesz Fidesz is a major conservative-nationalist political party in Hungary. Led by Viktor Orbán since 2003, it has shaped Hungarian politics through electoral success, coalition governa…

Filibuster (parliamentary procedure) Filibuster A filibuster is a deliberate tactic of extended debate used in legislative bodies to delay or block a vote. It has historical roots and varying rules across different parliaments.

Financial Services (Hong Kong Legislative Council functional constituency) Financial Services (constituency) A Legislative Council functional constituency established in 1998 representing associations and institutions in banking, securities, insurance, asset management and related financi…

Fine Gael — Irish centre‑right political party Fine Gael Fine Gael is a centre‑right, liberal‑conservative political party in the Republic of Ireland. Founded in the 1930s, it has been a major party of government and is led by Leo Varadk…

Fire-Eaters (Antebellum Southern Secessionists) Fire-Eaters Fire-Eaters were a group of militant pro-slavery Southerners in the mid-19th century who promoted secession and the creation of a slaveholding nation through speeches, newspapers a…

First Triumvirate (Julius Caesar, Pompey, Crassus) First Triumvirate Informal political alliance formed in 60 BC between Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Marcus Crassus that reshaped late Republican Roman politics and contributed to the collapse of the Re…

First-past-the-post (single-member plurality) First-past-the-post voting A single-member plurality electoral system in which each district elects one representative: the candidate with the most votes wins. Simple to administer but can produce disproport…

Fiscal conservatism: principles, tools, history, and debates Fiscal conservatism Fiscal conservatism is a political-economic approach emphasizing limited government spending, low taxation, balanced budgets, and reduced public debt; it shapes fiscal policy choic…

Five Star Movement (Movimento 5 Stelle) Five Star Movement Italian political movement founded in 2009 combining direct-democracy tools, environmentalism and anti‑establishment rhetoric; influential in 2010s coalitions and notable for onlin…

Flag of North Korea The national flag of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea: a red central panel with a red star in a white disk, bordered by white and blue stripes, symbolizing political ideal…

Flag of the Soviet Union National banner of the USSR: a red field charged with a gold hammer and sickle and a gold-bordered red star, adopted with the Union’s foundation and used until the state’s 1991 dis…

Flag of Vietnam (Red Flag with a Gold Star) Flag of Vietnam National flag of Vietnam: a red field with a centered gold five-pointed star, symbolizing revolution and socialist unity. Originated during the independence movement and adopted by…

Floor leader (legislative caucus leader) Floor leader A floor leader is the principal representative of a political party within a legislative chamber, responsible for managing debate, strategy, and party business on the chamber floor…

Foreign policy: aims, instruments, and actors in international relations Foreign policy Foreign policy is a state's strategy for interacting with other states and non-state actors using diplomacy, trade, aid, alliances, sanctions and military means to protect interest…

Foreign relations of Pakistan: history, key partners and contemporary challenges Foreign relations of Pakistan Overview of Pakistan’s external relations: historical alliances, major bilateral ties (India, China, US), regional disputes, multilateral roles, and strategic interests in South an…

Forum for Democracy (FVD) Forum for Democracy Dutch right-wing, national‑conservative party founded in 2016. Eurosceptic and pro‑direct democracy, led by Thierry Baudet. Notable for electoral gains, internal splits and public…