# The Combined Polity score
The **Combined Polity score** measures a country's political system by combining its **democracy** and **autocracy** scores. It ranges from **+10** (highly democratic) to **-10** (highly autocratic). Although it simplifies complex theories, it should be interpreted with caution.
The **original theory** suggests that **democracy** and **autocracy** are distinct, but can coexist. The **Polity Score** helps to analyze general **regime effects**. It's a valuable tool for understanding political regimes, but it should be used alongside other methods for a comprehensive analysis.
- This figure shows the combined **Polity Score** during the **decade before mass movements** in some **Arab countries** that experienced changes in their political systems beginning in **2011**.