Of course, governments also differ. Political scientists classify and categorize them in a number of ways. “There is, for example,” writes The New Encyclopædia Britannica, “the classical distinction between governments in terms of the number of rulers​—government by one man (monarchy or tyranny), government by the few (aristocracy or oligarchy), and government by the many (democracy).”

Sometimes governments are classified in terms of their key institutions (parliamentarism, cabinet government), according to their basic principles of political authority (traditional, charismatic), according to their economic structure, or in terms of their use or abuse of power. “Although none is comprehensive,” notes this reference work, “each of these principles of analysis has some validity.”

During the remainder of 1990, it will deal with the historical background of monarchies, aristocracies, oligarchies, and plutocracies. It will delve into the broad spectrum of democracies, along with the many different kinds of republics. It will put the spotlight on autocracies, dictatorships, and totalitarian governments such as Fascism and Nazism of World War II vintage. Socialism and Communism will also be considered.