There are several forms of government, differing in the executive, legislative system. Let us dwell on one of the forms of power that is of interest to historians and politicians. What is a monarchy? This word is often associated with something pathetic, magnificent, majestic. Let's try to identify the distinctive characteristics of this concept, consider its types, features, and also analyze its modern manifestations.
Definition
Before clarifying the main characteristics, we first determine what a monarchy is. This is one of the options for government, involving the sole management of the state. With such a political system, all power is concentrated in the hands of the monarch. Depending on the country, such rulers have different titles:
- king (queen);
- check;
- the emperor.
As a distinctive characteristic of such a form of government, we note the transfer of power by inheritance without elections and votes.
If the ruler does not have direct heirs, laws governing succession in monarchist countries come into force.
There are many examples in world history when a similar trend is violated. In the state, the form of government characterizes the structure of supreme power, as well as the division of responsibility and powers of the highest legislative bodies.
Arguing over what a monarchy is, we note that the ruler receives power for life, it depends on him how the state will behave in different situations.
Distinctive features
There are certain signs that are inherent in this form of government. So what is a monarchy? This is a state in which there is a sole ruler. He uses his power from the moment he assumes the throne until his death. The decisions of the monarch are not discussed, he is not legally responsible for his actions and orders.
Classification
There are various forms of monarchy:
- constitutional;
- absolute;
- estate representative.
In each form, common signs of the monarchy are preserved, but some distinctive parameters appear.
Despotism
It implies complete freedom of power of the ruler. He controls his subordinates with the help of force expressed in the troops or other power structures. The law established by the despot gives him unlimited possibilities and rights.
It turns out that the ruler and those close to him can do everything with impunity that they consider appropriate. No negative legal consequences will be applied to them.
The specifics of despotism were mentioned in their writings by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. He said that this form of government is similar to the master’s power over slaves.
Absolutism
What is the specificity of such a political system? An absolute monarchy is characterized by the ownership of power by only one person. It is he who controls the executive, legislative, military, judicial areas.
Absolutism can be a very favorable option for the ordinary people. Let us cite Luxembourg as an example of a state with an absolute monarchy, in which the population has the highest standard of living. The same form of government currently exists in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates.
A constitutional monarchy
It is characterized by the limited power of the monarch. Limitations are established by the constitution. The constitutional monarchy does not allow the ruler's priority in public administration. Despite the fact that restrictions are not specified in the law, in reality they are strictly implemented. There are several options for constitutional monarchies:
- parliamentary;
- dualistic;
- estate-representative.
In a dualistic monarchy, the power of the ruler is limited as follows: all decisions made by him are confirmed by the minister. In the absence of its resolution, the decisions of the monarch shall not enter into legal force. As another distinctive parameter of this type of monarchy, we note the consolidation of the executive power by the ruler.
In parliamentary form, there are also serious restrictions on the powers of the ruler. In fact, he is deprived of authority, performs only a representative or ceremonial function.
He does not have real opportunities, since all executive power belongs to the government, it is she who is responsible to the parliament for her actions.
The estate-representative monarchy involves participation in the creation of laws, government of the country by estate representatives. This form also implies significant restrictions on the power of the monarch, the reason is the development of commodity-money relations.
The estate monarchy was characteristic of European countries from the 12th to the 14th centuries. Typical examples of this form of government are the Cortes in Spain, the Parliament in England, and the General States in France.
Such a monarchy in Russia was represented by Zemsky Sobors in the 16th-17th centuries.
Monarchical rule today
In addition to the countries mentioned above, an absolute monarchy exists in the Vatican and Brunei. But the United Arab Emirates are considered a federal state. However, in each of the seven emirates there is precisely an absolute monarchy.
As a striking example of the parliamentary monarchy that currently exists, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be mentioned. The same form of government in Holland.
There are quite a few countries belonging to the constitutional monarchy: Belgium, Japan, Spain, Thailand, Andorra, Monaco, Morocco.
Typical examples of the dualistic monarchy are: Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait.
disadvantages
All types of political structure have certain disadvantages. The main problem is the remoteness of the people and the ruler from each other. Isolation of the monarch negatively affects his relationship with ordinary people. He does not understand the real situation existing in the state, therefore, cannot make the right decisions. If a country is governed only in accordance with the subjective principles of one person, this does not lead to its prosperity and development.
The monarch is a person who is characterized by attacks of self-confidence and vanity, and with the addition of impunity, the result can be terrifying for the people.
Also among the minuses of this form of government can be mentioned the transfer of the title by inheritance.
Not all heirs are able to fully manage the state, have sufficient intellectual abilities, moral qualities for this.
For example, power may end up in the hands of a mentally unstable person who is older in spite of the fact that there is a wise and adequate younger heir.
Conclusion
History shows that in the monarchical form of government, most often people have a negative attitude towards the aristocracy. People who belong to the upper strata of society have intellectual differences from those who do not possess material wealth. Such inequality gives rise to mutual hostility, enmity. The monarch’s lifelong power can be viewed from different perspectives. On the one hand, being on the throne for many years, the ruler has the opportunity to make decisions that contribute to the prosperity of the country. Realizing that it would take several decades to rule, the monarch systematically introduced certain reforms and took responsibility for the economic situation of the state.
Thanks to the succession to the throne, the country was kept in a relatively stable position. But the hereditary power received by a sick person doomed the state to life under the control of a monarch who was not able to answer for his decisions and actions.
Possession of information about what types of monarchy currently exists in the world contributes to a more conscious and deep study of this form of government.