Contrast the defining characteristics of democracy with those of dictatorships, giving examples of each. Assess whether "dictatorship" is synonymous with "nondemocracy."
What will be an ideal response?
The ideal answer should include:
1. Democracies can be seen as governments of and by the people. They feature government officials being accountable to citizens, periodic elections, universal adult suffrage, and voters' genuine ability to reject those serving as political leaders. Citizens in a democracy enjoy substantial political rights and civil liberties regarding participation, personal freedoms, and opposition. Examples include Canada and New Zealand.
2. Dictatorships refer to systems in which sovereignty is vested in a single individual (or a small group) who possesses nearly unlimited power. Under dictatorships, citizens are subjects of the state, with limited rights and freedoms. Examples include Algeria and Zimbabwe.
3. Thus, dictatorships can be viewed as opposites of democracy. Therefore, a dictatorship is a nondemocracy.
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