Referendum
A general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.
Nepotism
The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs.
Meritocracy
Government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.
Autocracy
A system of government by one person with absolute power.
Hegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of government of dominance in which the hegemon (leader state) rules geopolitically subordinate states by the implied means of power, the threat of force, rather than by direct military force.
Secular State
A state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion.
Brinkmanship
Brinkmanship (or brinksmanship) is the practice of pushing dangerous events to the verge of—or to the brink of—disaster in order to achieve the most significant political outcome.