Are elections mandatory in Democracies?

[that-guy-is-it]

It has been stated that, for example, Fascist countries may have elections, as the ideology matters, not the actual form of government. Now, I can see why this makes sense, there were Democracies in the Axis, such as Finland, and... No, I think its just Finland, but it makes sense to leave the option open for ahistorical representative-electoral-democracies adopting fascism and joining the Axis, for interesting alternate history. My concern is if this also works in reverse. While it might be sensible to leave Fascism and maybe Communism open to democratic governments, it seems rather silly to have an authoritarian tyrant be marked as a Democracy simply for supporting the UK and co. So if we reform a nation such as Portugal, for example, into a Democracy, would elections and an open society and all that be automatically established, or would it be the same but simply act as a Pro-Allied nation?

 

[LordOfWar16]

Well, elections are basicly the definition of an democracy, even tho there are of course different forms of direct democracies and indirect democracies.

 

[Evan05]

Democracy by definition is the ability to be able to vote on various issues (such as who will govern you).

 

[LordOfWar16]

Democracy by definition is the ability to be able to vote on various issues (such as who will govern you).

well, not all forms of democracies allow a saying in what the gouverment is doing. Those totalitarian democracies still have elections tho, with lawfully elected gouverments. It doesnt take much for those forms of democracies to drift into a dictatorship tho.

 

[Evan05]

well, not all forms of democracies allow a saying in what the gouverment is doing. Those totalitarian democracies still have elections tho, with lawfully elected gouverments. It doesnt take much for those forms of democracies to drift into a dictatorship tho.

There are authoritarian Democracies that only allow you to vote for members of the ruling Party (and said elections may or not be rigged), yes.

But Democracy in HOI4 seems to specifically denote genuine, liberal Democracies such as the US, UK, and France. An authoritarian Democracy, with elections that are not really all that representative of the people, can easily and more accurately be simulated with fascist states with elections.

 

[reashot]

That depends. During ww2 FDR was allowed unlimited term until his death in '45.

 

[EmpireMagnis]

As long as they aren't Victoria 2 elections, I'm fine with them.

 

[Opanashc]

That depends. During ww2 FDR was allowed unlimited term until his death in '45.

The two-term law was added after his fourth election - 22nd amendment, passed in 1947. Before that, it was just tradition to limit the president to only 2 terms, dating back to George Washington.

 

[that-guy-is-it]

There are a lot of things that need to be decided in regards to elections. I may remind everyone that Hitler and Mussolini were actually elected in democracies... There should be different types of elections based on corruption, government type, voting laws, etc. Vicky 2 wasn't perfect in regards to elections but it was probably the most in depth we have gotten with elections.

Neither Hitler or Mussolini were elected. Hitler lost and was made Chancellor to calm his supporters, and was made Fuhrer after President Hindenburg died of natural causes, and then began to completely take over the entire government, asking for especial powers, appointing Nazis to everything, etc. Mussolini marched his supporters into Rome, demanding an end to Democracy and King Vittorio appointing him as the Head of State. The King agreed, dissolved the Democratic Government, and gave their power to Mussolini and his Fascist Blackshirts.

 

[Wraith11B]

Both Hitler and Mussolini were elected into their countries' respective parliaments. Their parties won elections, and that's all that really matters.

 

[kviiri]

Both Hitler and Mussolini were elected into their countries' respective parliaments. Their parties won elections, and that's all that really matters.

Yep, Fascists got a large share of their power through legit politics. Which is why I'm a bit sad to not have heard anything about the "coalition governments" the devs promised us - Democracies that have significant Fascist or Communist support would have Democratic governments supported by either Fascists (Nationalist Coalition?) or Communists (Socialist Democrats?) with each coalition having their own strengths and weaknesses. Probably one of the weaknesses would be that such situation would be likely to eventually collapse under the pressure of more hardline politics.

 

[neonit]

Funny thing, a lot of people are wondering about just the same question, not just in game!

 

[italiaromano]

Both Hitler and Mussolini were elected into their countries' respective parliaments. Their parties won elections, and that's all that really matters.

Thank you! I knew I wasn't going crazy when I wrote that.

 

[Lither]

Freedom is mandatory. Severe penalties apply.

 

[fellaz007]

FYI... there was no general election in the UK between 1935 and 1945. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_general_elections

And I presume that without a Victory in Europe in May '45, there would have been no call to the ballot box in July '45.