stjórnarfar

Stjórnarfar is the Icelandic term for a state's governance system or political regime. It describes how political power is constituted, organized, and exercised—who may rule, how leaders are chosen, how decisions are made, and how rights and liberties are protected. Core elements typically include a constitutional or legal framework; separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches; the rule of law and civil liberties; an electoral system and party landscape; and institutions for accountability and oversight.

Governance arrangements can be centralized or federal, and the executive–legislative relationship can be parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential, shaping policy-making, stability, and responsiveness. The form of government is often classified as democracy, autocracy, or a hybrid, with many states combining elements such as constitutional limits, elections, and regular transfers of power. Different electoral designs—proportional, majoritarian, or mixed—affect representation, party systems, and governance outcomes. The quality of stjórnarfar depends on the rule of law, transparency, anti-corruption measures, administrative capacity, and civic rights.

Scholars use the concept to analyze legitimacy, performance, and development implications, as well as the resilience of institutions during shocks. Transitions—democratization, constitutional reform, changes in executive–legislature relations, or shifts toward centralization—illustrate how forms of stjórnarfar adapt to changing social, economic, and security conditions.