Single-party states

A single-party state is a country where only one political party is allowed to effectively govern and hold power. In such systems, other political parties are banned or severely limited, and the ruling party controls government decisions, media, and institutions. This arrangement often results in limited political competition and can reduce political freedoms, as citizens have fewer choices and the ruling party maintains authority through centralized control. Examples include countries like North Korea and historically, the Soviet Union. Single-party states are different from democracies, where multiple parties compete and elections are free and fair.