Do we REALLY want to be royalty? The Influence (or lack thereof) of Modern Royalty

Credit: nsucurrent.nova.edu

A Background for Modern Royalty:

The concept of royalty has been under close watch since the time of its inception. The earliest monarchy was said to be around 3100 BC. From the ancient emperors to the princes and princesses of today, the amount of power and pressure placed on one person to rule everyone has stood the test of time. For example, in most early monarchies, the ruler was said to be a messenger of God. Despite this pressure, monarchies survived for a very long time. In the 1900s, most of the world was still under the control of monarchs, especially in Europe. After World War I and as we shifted into the modern era in the mid to late 20th century, most monarchies were abolished. Countries mainly abolished them through the political movements of the 20th century; nationalism, anti-colonialism, republicanism, and Marxism. However, there are still some lone monarchies sprinkled across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. There are forty-four states with a sovereign as head of state, sixteen of them being part of the British Commonwealth, where the Queen of England has a largely ceremonial role and minimal power.

The Many Types of Monarchy:

There are many different types of monarchies that have been present throughout history. They are classified by way of succession and the amount of power given to the monarch. Specifically, there are two kinds of monarchies regarding succession, including hereditary monarchies and elective rulers.

A hereditary monarchy refers to the passing on of the title of king or queen through bloodlines. Usually, the crown goes from oldest son to oldest son, given that we live in a patriarchal society. However, in some cases, when there are no male heirs, we can see monarchs passing their crown to a daughter, a queen. When there are no children to be heirs, the crown usually goes to a sibling or cousin. An example of this kind of monarchy is the British Commonwealth.

Then there is an elective monarchy, where an elite group will give the title to an elected official. One example is the Cambodian Monarchy, where the Royal Council of the Throne chooses the king. Further, in Vatican City, the College of Cardinals elects the Pope. In the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, the ruler’s position is selected by a special counsel and lasts for five years.

In terms of power, there are many different types of monarchies. However, most of them fall into one of two categories, an absolute monarchy or a constitutional monarchy. In an absolute monarchy, the ruler’s word cannot be challenged by the people. This kind of monarchy is dying out, with the only absolute monarchies globally being Brunei, Eswatini, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Vatican City. In a constitutional monarchy, also called a limited monarchy, the country has a legislative body like a parliament. Even though the monarch is still considered Head of State, the monarch can’t make any political decisions without the legislative body.

In most cases, the monarch is just a ceremonial figurehead, as seen in the Commonwealth. In Sweden, the cabinet makes rules and laws, while King Carl XVI is head of state. Most countries that do have monarchies have constitutional monarchies.

Power and Influence of Modern Monarchies:

Since most monarchies are symbolic, they don’t retain much political power. However, these constitutional monarchies greatly influence media and popular culture, reaching their subjects through the mysticism and splendor of being royalty while also being relatable. In the case of the Windsors, the ruling house of England, this balance of awe and relatability is how the monarchy survived. The modernization of the monarchy has become the tool of choice to keep it going, although this technique is often dangerous. Treating royalty like celebrities often exposes the human side of them that takes away from the royal narrative, which gives way to public scandal.

Despite all of these challenges, these monarchies still seem to stick. Why is that? The answer lies within the people. As the late Prince Phillip once said, “People still respond more easily to symbolism than reason.” The need for symbolism and unity is a desire that most people around the world share. If not in the form of monarchy, a president-for-life or any other political figurehead serves that purpose. Constitutional monarchies seem to be doing better than modern democracies, according to The Week. Mauro Guillen, Wharton School of Business management professor, studied 137 countries from 1910 to 2000. He found that constitutional monarchies had a higher standard of living and more protection for property rights. Guillen believes that since monarchies are usually dynastic, they focus more on the greater scheme of things, thus lessening potential abuses of power by keeping society balanced. Monarchs also act as a check for Prime Ministers, reducing potential abuses of control even further. Finally, the monarch, acting as a figurehead, can unite the country in times of uncertainty.

What Can You Do To Help:

Monarchies play an unlikely role in some countries worldwide, uniting people in distress and serving as a cultural influence globally. They primarily serve as a check for leaders, which is arguably their most important function. Depending on where you are in the world, you probably don’t live in a constitutional monarchy. Even if you do, this point applies to everyone. Keep your leaders accountable. What does that mean exactly? Most of us don’t have the access necessary to storm up to world leaders and tell them what they’re doing wrong. No matter what, you can still use your voice. Learn about the issues you are passionate about and fight for the change you want to see on the local level. Support local candidates that you believe in, write articles like this one about topics you’re passionate about, or just talk about the things you want to see at the dinner table. These leaders, no matter what kind, are in place to lead us, the people. When we make our voices heard as a collective, we can move in the right direction to the changes we want to see in the world.

Use your voice to make a difference.

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Works Cited:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_monarchies

• https://examples.yourdictionary.com/types-of-monarchy-and-how-they-work.html

• https://news-decoder.com/does-our-modern-world-need-kings-and-queens-any-more/

• https://theweek.com/articles/847076/how-worlds-monarchs-are-adapting-modern-times