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Monarchy in the Modern World
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Discusses the role of monarchical forms of government in the contemporary world. Focuses on the British monarchy, but also discusses other monarchies around the world.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Discusses the role of monarchical forms of government in the contemporary world. Focuses on the British monarchy, but also discusses other monarchies around the world.
Paper Introduction:
Monarchy remains a form of government in a number of other countries throughout the world, though the nature of the monarchy in these nations has changed greatly over the centuries. The monarchy in great Britain is well known throughout the world, once as a powerful head of government but now more as the symbolic head of state. Yet even this role has been brought more and more into question in England and in other monarchies. The recent death of Pricess Diana may be cause for even deeper questioning of monarchy. Likely, the monarchy will survive well into the next century, and it may remain the reality in some countries for a long time. In the long run, though, the trend is clearly toward a more republican form of government, with elected representatives and elected heads of government and with the power emanating form the people and not from an inherited family dynas
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Wilson, "Comment: If I Were the Queen I'd Pack It in Now,"The Sunday Telegraph (March 8, 1998), 1. Introduction A. In spite of the publiccomplaints about the monarchy, however, it is not at all certain that thepeople would accept a reduction in the role of the monarchy or a turn torepublicanism, and the current attempt to vote on the monarchy in Australiashows the nature of the tensions involved, though supporters of themonarchy suggest this is still a reason for concern: If any further warning is needed, the government should look at what is happening in Australia, where there is to be a constitutional convention about the future of the monarchy. Monarchy remains a form of government in a number of other countriesthroughout the world, though the nature of the monarchy in these nationshas changed greatly over the centuries. There are confirmed monarchists in Britain who believed that thePrincess was herself damaging the crown, while others saw her as the victimof the bad behavior of other royals. Trend in Europe toward parliamentary government B. Some countries have apresident who participates in the selection, while others have the primeminister as the head of the government. 3 John Charmley, "Comment: What Will Follow the 'Family' Monarchy?,"The Sunday Telegraph (July 2 , 1997), 1. There was still considerable division on whatsort of reform the people had in mind. Monarchists had supported the Princeof Wales in his divorce battle with his ex-wife less out of support for himthan from support for the monarchy itself. Yet even this role has beenbrought more and more into question in England and in other monarchies.The recent death of Pricess Diana may be cause for even deeper questioningof monarchy. [iii] John Charmley, "Comment: What Will Follow the 'Family'Monarchy?," The Sunday Telegraph (July 2 , 1997), 1. 4 A.N. The vote now had shifted from 5 to 65 percentin support of the proposition that any future king or queen who could notwin popular support should relinquish office, and a shift from 46 to 56 percent in support of holding a referendum on the monarchy.[ii] One analyst considering what might follow the current family monarchyin England notes that the monarchy has been at a low in public opinionbefore in the late 186 s and recovered, but John Charmley finds it lesslikely that this will happen again: Traditionalists will hope that history will repeat itself and that Elizabeth II lives as long as her mother, thus allowing the monarchy to survive the present Prince of Wales. The voters in Englandwas largely pro-monarchy.[i] The Carlton program was a boisterous affair, with loud argument amongthe participants, but a more staid program on the same issue was held byChannel 4. What the people did want was greater accountability anddemocracy to be fit into the historical system of monarchical rule, thusblending the principle of heredity with the practice of democracy andhelping to ensure that the monarchy of the next century would be moreeffective and more modern. "Comment: What Will Follow the 'Family' Monarchy?" The Sunday Telegraph (July 2 , 1997), 1.Heffer, Simon. They did not favor a change inimage, such as had occurred in Scandinavia with the monarch bicycling towork each day. Different proposals for change C. To test the currentviewpoint of the public, the producers of the program first selected andinterviewed a national random sample to elicit their "prior" opinions andknowledge about the monarchy and its alternatives. Recent Trends A. OUTLINEI. All were then invitedto spend a weekend in a series of discussions at which they would be ableto question selected experts on the subject, and some 261 people attended.The participants spent two days in discussion before they were asked tocomplete the same questionnaire a second time, a test of whether they hadchanged their views. Worldwide trend toward republican form of government C. Even before the death of Princess Diana, the poor behavior of manyroyals in Britain had soured the public on the institution, and what hadonce been unthinkable, the end of the monarchy, was being discussed openly. This program began from the premise that support for theBritish monarchy has been in decline for some time. "Comment: If I Were the Queen I'd Pack It in Now." The Sunday Telegraph (March 8, 1998), 1. BibliographyCharmley, John. In January 1997, Carlton Television conducted a live program calledMonarchy: The Nation Decides, and more than 2.6 million viewers voted,suggesting that one-third of the British public no longer wants a monarchy. "Get Your Tanks off the Royal Lawn." New Statesman (December 12, 1997), 18-19.Henbest, Nigel and Heather Couper." "Keep the Palaces, but Stand for Election." Independent (July 29, 1996), 15.Streeter, Michael. [v] Heffer, Simon, "Get Your Tanks off the Royal Lawn," New Statesman(December 12, 1997), 19. The monarchy'spower has been diminished over time until it has little more than aceremonial function. Wilson, "Comment: If I Were the Queen I'd Pack It in Now," TheSunday Telegraph (March 8, 1998), 1. Arguments between monarchists and republicans D. The Australian voteV. [iv] A.N. Future of the monarchyII. Surveys and votesIV. Television surveys show dissatisfaction with the royals B. British traditionsIII. The monarchy in great Britain iswell known throughout the world, once as a powerful head of government butnow more as the symbolic head of state. Conclusion----------------------- [i] Michael Streeter, "Monarchy Should Go, Says a Third of TV Poll,"Independent (January 8, 1997), 1. Death of Princess Diana D. "Monarchy Should Go, Says a Third of TV Poll." Independent (January 8, 1997), 1.Wilson, A.N. Changes were indeed noted: one-half of the samplehad said "the monarchy should remain as it is" at the initial interview,around a third believed it should be reformed; and fewer than one in tenfavored abolition; while the second time the balance of opinion between thestatus quo and "reform" of the monarchy almost reversed itself. Endnotes [vi] Michael Streeter, "Monarchy Should Go, Says a Third of TV Poll,"Independent (January 8, 1997), 1. [ii] Nigel Henbest and Heather Couper, "Keep the Palaces, but Standfor Election," Independent (July 29, 1996), 15. Controversy Over the Monarchy A. The death of Princess Diana C. If he is not actually replacing the present Head of State, he is hinting to her very strongly that unless she "modernizes" herself, she will go the way of socialism, judges' wigs, and all the other things which get in the way of his thrusting need to make things new.[iv]Wilson notes that while many of the recent changes in protocol may seemtrivial--such as whether or not to fly the Union Flag over BuckinghamPalace in the Sovereign's absence--these symbols have real meaning inpreserving the monarchy so that changes show a lessening of royal power. Likelihood of the monarchy surviving E. 2 Nigel Henbest and Heather Couper, "Keep the Palaces, but Stand forElection," Independent (July 29, 1996), 15. Now, themargin was 5 to 39 percent as the public said that reform of the monarchywas possible and desirable. The two are distinct,and coalitions are not necessary for rule. But while historians repeat themselves, history never repeats itself, and the question now is whether a "People's Monarchy" can long survive in a climate of fickle public opinion.[iii]Other analysts, however, find that the modification of the monarchy nowtaking place has already destroyed the institution, or at least threatensto do so, by making the monarchy less royal and more "democratic." A.N.Wilson finds symbolism in the recent elevation of Tony Blair as PrimeMinister and the way the newspapers treated the issue: He is stridently seen as the new Head of State. Previous issues B. Control of the government rests with theparty that has the majority in the House of Commons, and control shiftsbetween the Conservative Party and the Labor Party. Trends A. The electoral system derives froma historical and cultural context in each country, but the electoral systemtoday determines the political culture. A parliamentary system such asthat in England centers on two basic party groupings, while that in Germanyis fragmented and requires a coalition government to achieve a majority.The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy under a democraticparliamentary regime, with the Queen as the head of state and also thesymbol of the nation's unity. Less potent monarchies C. The most dominant form of government in Europe today is some form ofparliamentary government with a prime minister generally chosen from thepolitical party with the largest number of seats. Likely, the monarchy will survive well into the next century,and it may remain the reality in some countries for a long time. The parliamentary system inGreat Britain developed from the time of the Reformation as the old systemof control by the monarchy gave way to a revolution leading to increasedgovernmental participation by first the nobility and then the people as awhole through the creation of more democratic institutions. The debate over the future of the British monarchy is clearly not new,but it has been given a new sense of urgency with the death of PrincessDiana. Regional differences in opinion were noted, with 56 percent in Scotlandvoting against the monarchy; with Northern Ireland split equally; and withWelsh viewers marginally in favor of the monarchy. Americans and the monarchy B. Despite everything, Australians are registering rising levels of support for the Queen, largely because they know too well the appalling quality of their politicians.[v]Supporters also find good reasons for retaining the monarchy even as Europeand Britain are changing, and indeed because they are changing, giving thepeople a sense of a tie to the past and to their history and traditions.Still, it seems likely that the monarchy will change in response to thewill of the people, and this alone shows that it is the people who aretaking the ascendancy as the monarchy loses power. In thelong run, though, the trend is clearly toward a more republican form ofgovernment, with elected representatives and elected heads of governmentand with the power emanating form the people and not from an inheritedfamily dynastic right to govern. 5 Heffer, Simon, "Get Your Tanks off the Royal Lawn," New Statesman(December 12, 1997), 19.
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