Understanding Forms of Government

Democracy, authoritarianism, communism, socialism, monarchy, diarchy. Some of these you may know well, some you might have heard of, while others you have not (I am looking at you diarchy). What forms of government are out there, what shapes to they take, and is there any overlap? In this episode we talk with Djimet Dogo, Director of Africa House in Portland Oregon, who walks us through the various types of governments we see around the world. He has a unique lived experience that informs his understanding of these types of government, as he has fought hard against authoritarian governments, specifically in his home country of Chad.

It is important to understand what these forms of government are and what they really mean, as many of these terms are talked about in a way that does not reflect their true nature. As you listen to this episode, you will gain insights in to these forms of government, some of the key features to look for, and how you can talk about them in an accurate way.

Djimet Dogo is the Associate Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) and Director IRCO/Africa House. His work to effect true community engagement includes a demonstrated history of over 23 years’ experience facilitating collaborative coalition building for refugee and immigrant communities. His many educational qualifications include a Master of Public Administration from PSU and several degrees in Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Peace building and Leadership from France, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and South Africa. Mr. Dogo was pivotal in the creation of the culturally specific community focal point Africa House in 2006—the only culturally and linguistically specific one-stop service center targeting the increasingly diverse and rapidly growing number of African immigrants and refugees living in Oregon.