Political change occurs when a governing body or regime is displaced or altered, either through force of arms, revolution, regime change, or through any other means. Political change is often an indication of a greater societal shift, reflecting the alters in how citizens interact with politics and the government. This article will shed light on how political change occurs, go through different types of political changes, and discuss how people’s political views can affect political change.
Types of Political Change
Political change can take many forms, and there are certain types of political changes which can be more common than others in different countries and regions.
Revolution
The most immediate type of political change is revolution. Revolution occurs when widespread public backlash against a regime leads to widespread public action and often results in the overthrow of the existing government. A revolution can be nonviolent or include armed combat, and usually requires significant mobilization of the public and a degree of organization or unity to be successful.
Regime Change
Regime change can also be a form of political change, and is usually a result of either external or internal forces. External forces are usually military means, where foreign powers forcibly remove a government and replace them with one more beneficial or agreeable to the external party. Internal forces may also cause regime change by ousting the current governing body in a democratic or other political process.
Incremental Change
Incremental change is a more gradual form of political change, which often begins from within the existing system. Incremental change is often caused by building blocks such as reform, legislative action, and the appointment of new leadership. It can also be driven by growing public support for specific ideologies or policies. This type of change is typically slower to come about and may take years before any visible difference is seen in a country’s leadership.
Constitutional Change
Another form of political change is constitutional change. This type of transformation is often initiated by legal means, such as revising or amending the country’s constitution. In order for a constitution to be changed, it often requires a specific majority, or a two- thirds majority to be agreed upon by citizens or legislators. This type of change is generally reserved for much deeper changes in governance, like changing how citizens engage with the government or changing the scope of the rights and liberties afforded to citizens.
Public Opinion and Political Change
Public opinion is a powerful influencer of political change, and it can be the main driving force behind some of the most drastic or impactful transformations of a governments. When a large enough majority of people become opposed to the existing governing body or policies, they will often take to the streets or use other forms of advocacy to get their message across and push for change.
Public opinion is also important for any election, as it helps determine which candidates have the public’s support. This can be a deciding factor in whether a candidate or party is successful or not, and can also be a decisive factor in whether an existing regime will remain in power or be replaced.
Political change, while often a disruptive or tumultuous process, is a necessary part of democracy and a healthy political system. It can take many forms and be the result of anything from military threats to simply becoming unpopular with the public. Whether it is a regime change or an amendment to a constitution, political change occurs when there is an overall feeling of dissatisfaction within a population and an organized push for a better future.
