Since the World War I, in many countries, like Russia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, parliamentary democracy was overthrown, and political parties were suppressed except the party which set up the dictatorship. Thus one-party government was established in these countries. Similarly, parliamentary form of government and multiple .system have been abolished in several other countries in recent years, such as Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Thailand, or are restricted in powers and functions as in France today.
Under the single-party government, no other parties are allowed to come into existence. The only party is the government party. At elections, the voters cast their votes for the candidates of this party. No opposition parties exist. They are forbidden by law. The people enjoy no civil liberties or rights of speech, press or association to organise any .other parties. The single-party system is really an organ of the government and not an association of the votes or people.
It is an instrument of government propaganda. It is totalitarian, for it controls all aspects of national life and culture. In the Fascist or Nazi Party, no discussion and criticism of the government policy or acts are allowed. In the Communist Party, the policy and programme of the government are discussed by the people, but when once decision is taken and the government has adopted a policy of programme, further discussion and criticism are not at all permissible. Party “line” once adopted is rigidly followed by the members. Even in the present day Communist countries it is proposed to set up opposition parties. They will thus have two-party or multiple party systems, as the fall of communist system in Eastern Europe has shown since 1989.