What is a regime?
Q: What is a regime?
A: A regime is the leader and other people who run a government of a sovereign state.
Q: How can regimes achieve power?
A: Depending on the time and place, regimes can achieve power in many ways, such as through an election or by force like a coup, invasion or revolution.
Q: What is representative democracy?
A: Representative democracy is when power is shared between an executive branch and legislative branch, with the judicial branch being separate from the regime. It is now used by more than half of people on Earth.
Q: What does the regime need to stay in power?
A: The regime needs help from people outside of it and its government to stay in power - these may be in the military or political party. Military and police obey orders from the regime, which allows them to maintain control over citizens.
Q: How do other countries interact with each other's regimes?
A: When many regimes negotiate at international organizations such as United Nations or World Trade Organization, it doesn't matter how each one achieved their power - only that they can agree on terms for everyone in their country to follow.
Q: Can someone change another country's regime without violence or interfering in its election?
A: Generally speaking, no - if someone wants to change another country's regime they usually have to resort to violence or interfere with its election process. This often happens when one regime threatens another.
