Council republic

A Council republic is term used to refer to a republican system of government where directly elected councils play a prominent role in a country's politics. While the exact structure of their governments varies, common characteristics are councils which are a fundamental unit of governance and an association with socialism. It may also feature direct democracy, an emphasis on collective leadership, and nonpartisanism. The term is often used to differentiate these states from Euclean capitalist liberal democracies. It is the predominant form of government for socialist states in the world, such as Dezevau, Kirenia, and Lavana. Council republics are generally considered to be democratic, but some states such as Arthasthan has been accused of authoritarianism.

The political thought associated with the establishment and continuation of a council republic is known as councilism or council republicanism and its proponents are known as Councilists.

Characteristics

Although the term council republic encompasses many countries whose structures of governance vary considerably, they all feature directly elected legislative bodies. In this system, a council, sometimes a workers' council, is the fundamental unit of governance for all levels of the country's administration from the national level to the local. Political power is distributed between these councils in a federal system that functions from the bottom upwards. Council republics tend to empahise localism through local councils that function through direct democracy. Usually these councils would elect councils on the next levels of administration who would be responsible for regional or statewide authority. In turn, these can delegate members to the next level on a national level, which would be the national government. Alternatively each level of governance may be directly elected by the population. These councils usually also have executive and judicial powers as well as legislative powers, which is similar to the concept of legislative supremacy in parliamentary republics.

Association with socialism

All council republics in the world are socialist states, which political experts considering to be its defining characteristic. In some republics, the councils may be workers' councils or another body that represents the interests of the workforce in politics. A council republic may also feature a Section of the Workers' International which usually plays a prominent role in the country's politics. Often these political parties are organized through local, state, and national councils that function alongside government institutions.

Comparisons of council republics

Decentralisation

localism/federalism

List of council republics

State	Capital	Primary language(s)	Population	Area
Arthasthan	Nadipatnam	Samundrese	107,281,772	625,945 km²
Chistovodia	Volosovo	Narodyn	73,491,200	2,399,981 km²
Dezevau	Bazadavo	Ziba	190,902,213	2,000,000 km²
East Miersa	Żobrodź (de jure) Dyńsk (de facto)	Miersan	21,740,000	197,568 km²
Kirenia	Harimisaareke	Kirenian	52,853,207	459,800 km²
Lavana	Pers	Lavanan	86,842,742	713,879 km²
Lemovicia	Topagunea	Lemovician	1,014,866	13,548 km²
South Kabu	Ayukarta	Kabuese	7,841,984	44,154 km²

Former council republics

State	Capital	Languages	Years	Population	Area
Amathia	East Arciluco	Amathian	(1935–1959)		405,798 km²
North Vinalia	Orlavo	Soravian	(1935-1993)	18,500,000 (1990)