Countries with a monarchical form of government: yesterday and today

Such a system of statepower is the oldest on our planet. Countries with a monarchical form of government have always existed. Signs of the monarchy began to emerge even in the oldest political formations of the planet that existed in the Mesopotamia. They could have features, characteristic properties,

However, their essence was reduced to a single one.Ancient Egypt, China, the states of Mesopotamia and the Inca empire are all countries with a monarchical form of government. The same applies to the overwhelming majority of medieval states. With the exception, perhaps, of some noble republics: Florence, Venice or Novgorod in Russia in a certain period. At the same time, this system had many variations in different parts of the world, special features. Almost always countries with a monarchical form of government were characterized by the unlimited power of the sovereign. Especially it concerned the eastern societies, where in front of the ruler all his subjects were considered slaves. Any Turkish vizier or Chinese official at one time could be at the bottom of the system. Conversely, there are also significant cases of the rise of yesterday's slaves due to personal ties with the rulers. In Europe, there was a more rigid hierarchy. The feudal lords had certain inalienable rights that protected them from the arbitrariness of their superiors (including the king). At the same time, not having a noble origin, it was hardly possible to break into the upper stages of the hierarchy. However, over time the position of European kings has strengthened somewhat.

New time

The Renaissance and the change of feudal societycapitalist relations inflicted heavy blows on the absolute rights and claims of kings to power. Countries with a monarchical form of government in Europe have staggered. The enlightening ideas of Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes, and other thinkers significantly undermined the previously held idea of ​​the inevitability of subordination to the monarch. The first practical result of the democratization of European minds was the Great French Revolution. And the Bourbon dynasty became the first among royal houses to lose their legal possessions. Later, the Bourbons will be able to restore their power in France for a short time, but the process has already been launched. The second half of the XIX and the beginning of the XX century became the era of the fall of royal families: the same Bourbon, Habsburg, Romanov, Hohenzollern. Democratic trends began to reach other continents. The Xinhai Revolution put an end to the imperial power in China.

Modern world

Here and there the royal administration still remainsToday. However, as a rule, did not retain their positions at all. Countries that have a monarchical form of government consider it rather as a tribute to traditions, and royal families act as symbols of the nation. Such are England, Denmark, Japan. At the same time, a list of modern monarchical countries can also present other examples. Mostly these are eastern countries, where hereditary rulers retained power. So, in Jordan and Kuwait, a dualistic monarchy is flourishing. The power is divided between the parliament and the monarch. Moreover, the latter is the strongest figure in the political life of the country. In European Spain, King Juan Carlos has powers comparable to those in the Russian Federation.