Non-Democratic Systems for Choosing Heads of State

The method of selecting a national leader is a fundamental indicator of a country's political system. Many nations do not choose their head of state through competitive, multi-candidate democratic elections with universal suffrage.

Absolute Monarchies

The head of state (a monarch) inherits the position for life, with ultimate political power.

Brunei

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Serves as the absolute ruler of the nation.

Oman

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

Holds absolute power as the hereditary monarch.

Qatar

Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

Rules as the absolute monarch of the state.

Saudi Arabia

King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

The absolute ruler, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the de facto day-to-day leader.

United Arab Emirates

Federal Monarchy System

The President is selected for a five-year term by the seven hereditary rulers of the emirates.

Vatican City

The Pope

The absolute sovereign is selected for life by a conclave of cardinals.

One-Party States

Only one party is legally allowed to hold effective power. The head of state is selected by the party hierarchy.

China

President selected by Communist Party

The President is selected by the National People's Congress, which is dominated by the Communist Party of China.

Cuba

President selected by Communist Party

The President is elected by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the Communist Party of Cuba.

Eritrea

President Isaias Afwerki

Has held power since 1993; no national elections have ever been held.

Laos

President selected by Lao People's Revolutionary Party

The President is elected by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party.

North Korea (DPRK)

Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un

Holds absolute power. Elections are non-competitive and serve to approve the ruling party's candidates.

Vietnam

President selected by Communist Party

The President is elected by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Military Juntas

The military has seized power via a coup, and a military officer serves as the head of state.

Burkina Faso

Captain Ibrahim Traoré

Seized power in a 2022 coup. He is the transitional President.

Guinea

General Mamady Doumbouya

Seized power in a 2021 coup. He is the transitional President.

Mali

Colonel Assimi Goïta

Seized power in a 2021 coup. He is the transitional President.

Myanmar (Burma)

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

Seized power in a 2021 coup. He is the de facto head of state.

Niger

General Abdourahamane Tiani

Seized power in a 2023 coup. He leads the ruling military council.

Authoritarian Regimes & Personalist Dictatorships

These countries may hold elections, but they are not free or fair. Power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or party.

Russia

President Vladimir Putin

Has systematically dismantled political opposition, controlling all state levers of power and making elections non-competitive.

Turkmenistan

President Serdar Berdimuhamedow

Leads an authoritarian state where elections are a formality.

Tajikistan

President Emomali Rahmon

Has ruled since 1992, with elections being largely ceremonial.

Belarus

President Alexander Lukashenko

Has ruled since 1994, maintaining power through repressive means and rigged elections.

Iran

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

While a president is elected, the true head of state is the Supreme Leader, who is appointed for life by a vetted body.

Hypothetical Update: Syria

Scenario: As of 2025, following a hypothetical deposition, Bashar al-Assad lives in exile in Russia.

Implications:

Syria would no longer be a clear example of a personalist dictatorship under Assad. Its status would be in violent flux, likely falling into one of two categories:

A New Military Junta or Regime Faction

If a faction from the existing regime consolidates power, Syria would resemble the states in the Military Junta category, albeit amid an ongoing civil war.

A Failed State

If no single faction can establish control, Syria would cease to have a recognized national head of state, instead being divided among warring parties.

Key Distinctions and Takeaways

Constitutional Monarchies are Democracies

Countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada are democracies; their monarchs are ceremonial figureheads. Executive power lies with an elected Prime Minister.

The "Hybrid Regime" Grey Area

Many nations hold elections that are deeply flawed. They technically choose a leader by vote, but the process is not considered democratic by international standards.

The Situation is Dynamic

The list of non-democratic states, especially those under military rule, can change rapidly. The scenario for Syria illustrates how quickly a country's classification can shift.