Politics

Frankfurt Parliament (Paulskirche Assembly) Frankfurt Parliament The 1848–49 Frankfurt Parliament was the first freely elected all-German assembly that drafted a liberal constitution and debated monarchy, nationality, and rights during the 1848…

Free Democratic Party (Germany) German liberal political party (FDP) promoting individual freedoms, a market-oriented economy, lower government spending and privatization; frequent coalition partner in federal an…

Free Soil Party Mid-19th century U.S. political party opposing the expansion of slavery into western territories; influential in the 1848 and 1852 presidential elections and a precursor to the Rep…

Free Trade Party (Australia): history, policies and legacy Free Trade Party Concise history of the Australian Free Trade Party (1889–1909): its origins, policy on tariffs, leaders, renaming as the Anti‑Socialist Party and merger into the Commonwealth Liber…

Free Voters (Freie Wähler): independent local political groups in Germany Free Voters Independent political associations known as Free Voters (Freie Wähler) compete mainly in local German elections, emphasizing municipal decision‑making, pragmatic policies, and a no…

Free World (political term during and after the Cold War) Free world A political label originating in the Cold War, used by non-communist states to contrast themselves with the Soviet bloc; its meanings, uses, criticisms, and cultural echoes are exa…

Free-Staters (Kansas): Settlers Who Opposed Slavery's Expansion in the 1850s Free-Stater (Kansas) Free-Staters were mid-19th-century Kansas Territory settlers who resisted the extension of slavery; their coalition combined abolitionists and exclusionists, spawned rival constitu…

Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta A right-wing provincial party in Alberta (1999–2020) that promoted provincial autonomy and later merged into the Wildrose Independence Party following limited electoral success.

Freedom fighter A freedom fighter seeks political self-determination or liberation for a group. The label covers diverse methods—from nonviolent protest to armed struggle—and its meaning depends o…

Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) Freedom Party of Austria A major Austrian political party characterized by national-conservative and right-wing populist positions; active in national politics and known for controversial leadership and im…

French Communist Party (Parti communiste français) French Communist Party Political party founded in 1920, historically influential on French left politics, trade unions and local government; evolved from Marxist-Leninist roots and remains a presence in…

Front-runner (politics): definition, role, advantages and risks Front-runner A front-runner is the apparent leader in an electoral contest. This article explains how front-runners are identified, their strategic effects, historical usage, advantages and vul…

Gahal (Gush Herut–Liberalim): the Israeli right‑wing alignment, 1965–1973 Gahal Gahal was a political alliance in Israel from 1965 to 1973, uniting Herut and the Liberal Party under Menachem Begin; it combined nationalist security policies with economic libera…

Gang of Four (Chinese political faction) Gang of Four Political faction of four Chinese Communist Party officials who rose during the Cultural Revolution, were arrested after Mao's death, tried and imprisoned; their influence and lega…

Gauleiter (Nazi Party regional leader) Gauleiter Gauleiter were the regional leaders of the NSDAP who directed party organization, propaganda and later exercised broad administrative and wartime powers in Gaue and Reichsgaue; the…

General election: purpose, procedure, history and distinctions General election An overview of general elections: how they work, typical formats, historical development, and how they differ from primaries, by-elections and local contests.

General Secretary (political title and role) General Secretary A political office usually denoting the chief administrator or leader of a party organization; common in communist and other party systems. Covers role, history, selection, duties…

GERB — Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria GERB GERB is a major centre-right political party in Bulgaria, founded in 2006, known for pro-EU stances, liberal-conservative policies, and prominent leadership under Boyko Borisov.

German National People's Party (Deutschnationale Volkspartei, DNVP) German National People's Party The DNVP was a national-conservative political party in Germany from 1918 to 1933, influential in the Weimar era and later absorbed into the Nazi movement; it represented monarchis…

German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, DAP) German Workers' Party A short-lived post‑World War I political group in Germany that originated in Munich in 1919 and later evolved into the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP).

Gerrymandering: How Partisan Redistricting Shapes Electoral Representation Gerrymandering Explains how partisan redistricting—through packing, cracking and irregular boundaries—changes electoral representation, how courts and metrics detect it, and reforms aimed at fair…

Gesher (2019 Israeli political party) Gesher (2019 political party) Gesher is a centrist, socially oriented Israeli party founded in 2018 by Orly Levy. It emphasizes cost-of-living, welfare and reducing inequality and has joined electoral alliances…

Gesine Schwan — German political scientist and SPD presidential candidate Gesine Schwan Gesine Schwan (born 22 May 1943) is a German political scientist, university leader and member of the Social Democratic Party. She was the SPD candidate for Federal President in 20…

Glasnost: Soviet policy of openness and reform Glasnost Glasnost was a late‑Soviet policy of political openness and expanded information introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev that loosened censorship, enabled public debate and interacted clos…

Grand coalition (broad government between major parties) Grand coalition A grand coalition is a government formed when the largest rival parties—typically the main center‑left and center‑right forces—agree to govern together, often to secure a stable pa…

Great Society: Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1960s agenda to reduce poverty and inequality Great Society The Great Society was a broad set of U.S. domestic programs in the 1960s under President Lyndon B. Johnson aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice and expanding education…

Green Movement (Israel) — HaTnu'a HaYeruqa Green Party (Israel) HaTnu'a HaYeruqa (The Green Movement) is an Israeli environmentalist, moderate-left and Zionist party founded in 2008. It focuses on sustainability, social justice and has cooperat…

Green Party (Norway) — Miljøpartiet De Grønne Green Party (Norway) Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Green Party) is a Norwegian political party focused on environmental protection, climate action and sustainability; entered the Storting in 2013 and won thr…

Green Party (Sweden) Miljöpartiet de Gröna, founded in 1981 from the anti‑nuclear movement, is Sweden’s primary green party. It promotes environmental protection, renewable energy, animal welfare, gend…

Green Party Northern Ireland A non-sectarian green political party in Northern Ireland promoting environmental protection, social justice and neutrality on the constitutional question; active in local governme…

Green Party of Canada Federal political party in Canada advocating environmentalism, social justice and grassroots democracy; founded in the 1980s and represented intermittently in the House of Commons.

Green Party of England and Wales Overview of the Green Party of England and Wales: its aims, structure, history, policies, elected representation and distinctive features.

Green Party of Ontario Provincial political party in Ontario, Canada, founded in 1983. Focuses on environmentalism, sustainability and social justice; achieved its first legislative seat in 2018 under Mi…

Green Party of the United States A progressive political party emphasizing ecological sustainability, social justice and grassroots democracy; active in national and local U.S. politics with distinct principles an…

Green politics: principles, history, and contemporary influence Green politics Green politics is a political current centered on ecological protection, sustainability, social justice and participatory democracy. It emerged in the late 20th century and now sha…

GreenLeft (GroenLinks): Dutch green-left political party GreenLeft GreenLeft (GroenLinks) is a Dutch green-left political party formed in 1989 by a merger of four parties. It combines environmentalism with progressive social policies and participa…

HaAvoda (Israeli Labor Party) HaAvoda HaAvoda (The Labor) is Israel's historic social-democratic and Zionist party, founded in 1968 from Mapai, Ahdut HaAvoda and Rafi; current leader Merav Michaeli and a key actor in I…

HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) — Israeli Religious Zionist party HaBayit HaYehudi HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) is an Israeli Religious Zionist political party combining Modern Orthodox values with right-leaning nationalism and participation in national coa…

Hadash — The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Israeli political party) Hadash Hadash is a left-wing Israeli political party formed in 1977 that combines communist roots with an Arab–Jewish membership and advocates equality, social justice and a negotiated pe…

Hamilton Hill (comics): Gotham's corrupt mayor in Batman stories Hamilton Hill (comics) Hamilton Hill is a recurring fictional mayor in Batman-related comics and media, often portrayed as corrupt and allied with organized crime, appearing in comics, animation and film…

Hammer and sickle: symbol of workers' unity and its history Hammer and sickle The hammer and sickle is a political emblem linking industrial and agricultural labor. Originating in early 20th-century socialist movements, it has been used by states, parties an…

Hastings and Rye (UK Parliament constituency) A parliamentary constituency on England's south coast covering Hastings, Rye and nearby communities; returns one MP to the House of Commons and has been a competitive seat in natio…

HaTnu'a (The Movement) — Israeli social-liberal political party HaTnu'a HaTnu'a (The Movement) is an Israeli social-liberal, secular and Zionist party founded in 2012 by Tzipi Livni. It later entered an electoral alliance known as the Zionist Union.

Health Services (LegCo functional constituency) Health Services (constituency) A Hong Kong Legislative Council functional constituency created in 1998, representing healthcare and allied health professionals who elect one Legislative Council member.

Hegemony: forms of leadership and dominance among states and groups Hegemony Hegemony describes the dominance or leadership of one political actor over others, ranging from informal influence to coercive control; it covers historical examples, mechanisms, a…

Herut — Israeli right‑wing Zionist party Herut Herut was a right‑wing Zionist party founded after 1948 by Menachem Begin; it promoted strong security, territorial maximalism, and later formed alliances that led to the modern Li…

Heung Yee Kuk (Legislative Council functional constituency) Heung Yee Kuk (constituency) A Legislative Council functional constituency in Hong Kong representing the Heung Yee Kuk's leadership; a corporate, single-seat electorate for New Territories rural interests crea…

Hezbe Wahdat (Islamic Unity Party) — Hazara political party Hezbe Wahdat Hezbe Wahdat is a Hazara political party in Afghanistan, founded in 1989 as a coalition of Hazara groups. It played a central role in late 20th-century Afghan politics and experien…