Monarchies: Traditional Government in the Modern Era
By Carolina Beirne and Kayla Krueger, 5/29/2020
The House of Windsor
The British Monarchy has been one of the most effective in ruling a nation, having remained in power for around 1500 years. The odds have been pinned against the Royal Family through periods of scandal, controversy, and questionable governing values. This monarchical system appoints one person as the ultimate ruler over all of Britain's governing bodies, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Currently, Queen Elizabeth II has been serving since her coronation in 1952. As the Head of State, the Queen virtually controls all of Britain's sovereignty.
The Royal Family of Windsor has maintained the penultimate power and wealth for centuries following the English Civil War in 1649. The general outline for the monarchy was originally established by Henry VIII, in which he created the rules of succession. The lines of succession have been continually blurred over time, and the status of the throne now holds a much different, more surface-level power over the nation.
The monarchy appoints one person as the Head of the Nation, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The monarchy maintains no political power as it has ceded the ability to create and enforce legislation, and serves rather as a figurehead. However, each bill that is created and passed through British Parliament needs royal assent by the Queen as a royal formality. The role of the British Monarchy is mostly symbolic, as they epitomize the quintessence of British culture. As representatives of the British Empire, the members of the royal family are responsible for corresponding with other leaders. The Queen spearheads all operations, while the rest of the royal family members are meant to be involved with royal engagement, and abide by the rules made by the Queen.
Scandal and controversy have also ravaged the governing body of Britain. The most recent development of this has been the official departure of newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The preemptive slander from the British media upon Markle was likely the impetus for leaving the family. Many members of the royal family and citizens of Britain did not approve of Markle. She was a progressive biracial American, which counters the pure British stereotype that the royal family has been upholding.This encapsulates the absurdity and extreme pressure that the monarchy places on each member. Markle was severely abused by the media, which were sentiments likely shared with the remaining members of the royal family.
This level of scandal is not a new concept to the throne. There have been multiple members of the British monarchy that have left and spoke out, exposing the truth of the monarchical system. Prince Andrew departed from the monarchy after he spoke out in an interview with BBC about his association with sex offender Jeffery Epstein, and his sexual relations with Virginia Roberts, a young 17 year-old who was trafficked by Epstien. This scandal drew a lot of negative attention to the monarchy, and Prince Andrew even admitted that he believed he had “let the side down”, implying that the monarchy was severely displeased with his behavior. Prince Andrew resigned from his public duties, which didn’t impact the efficiency of the monarchy’s governance since they have little political power over Britain. However this heavily impacted the persona of the monarchy, exposing toxicity and wrong behavior.
There have been prominent figures represented in the monarchy that have heavily influenced public opinion as well. Princess Diana, was an archetypal figure in the public. She was widely admired by many, but her progressive persona and friction against the monarchical status-quo sparked controversy. Princess Diana was viewed as “The People’s Princess” because of her divorce from Prince Charles and her relationship with Dodi Fayed. Although Diana maintained an unorthodox relationship with the monarchy, it struck the entire world when herself and Fayed were killed in a car accident. This has created an even stronger national tie to the monarchy, because the monarchy gave the people Diana.
Nonetheless, the presence of the Royal Family persists. This is mainly due to the strong national ties that many citizens share with the monarchy. The Queen is widely admired by Britain’s inhabitants, as well as others from around the world. The Royal Family, being one of the wealthiest and most influential families, also plays a significant role in Britain's economy. Approximately 1.8 million British Pounds is brought in each year from the Royal Family, from tourism alone. Although the media has slightly morphed the image of the monarchy in recent years, their overall popularity gives them a foundation for success, implying that the monarchy will continue for some time.
The British Monarchy has been one of the most effective in ruling a nation, having remained in power for around 1500 years. The odds have been pinned against the Royal Family through periods of scandal, controversy, and questionable governing values. This monarchical system appoints one person as the ultimate ruler over all of Britain's governing bodies, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Currently, Queen Elizabeth II has been serving since her coronation in 1952. As the Head of State, the Queen virtually controls all of Britain's sovereignty.
The Royal Family of Windsor has maintained the penultimate power and wealth for centuries following the English Civil War in 1649. The general outline for the monarchy was originally established by Henry VIII, in which he created the rules of succession. The lines of succession have been continually blurred over time, and the status of the throne now holds a much different, more surface-level power over the nation.
The monarchy appoints one person as the Head of the Nation, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The monarchy maintains no political power as it has ceded the ability to create and enforce legislation, and serves rather as a figurehead. However, each bill that is created and passed through British Parliament needs royal assent by the Queen as a royal formality. The role of the British Monarchy is mostly symbolic, as they epitomize the quintessence of British culture. As representatives of the British Empire, the members of the royal family are responsible for corresponding with other leaders. The Queen spearheads all operations, while the rest of the royal family members are meant to be involved with royal engagement, and abide by the rules made by the Queen.
Scandal and controversy have also ravaged the governing body of Britain. The most recent development of this has been the official departure of newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The preemptive slander from the British media upon Markle was likely the impetus for leaving the family. Many members of the royal family and citizens of Britain did not approve of Markle. She was a progressive biracial American, which counters the pure British stereotype that the royal family has been upholding.This encapsulates the absurdity and extreme pressure that the monarchy places on each member. Markle was severely abused by the media, which were sentiments likely shared with the remaining members of the royal family.
This level of scandal is not a new concept to the throne. There have been multiple members of the British monarchy that have left and spoke out, exposing the truth of the monarchical system. Prince Andrew departed from the monarchy after he spoke out in an interview with BBC about his association with sex offender Jeffery Epstein, and his sexual relations with Virginia Roberts, a young 17 year-old who was trafficked by Epstien. This scandal drew a lot of negative attention to the monarchy, and Prince Andrew even admitted that he believed he had “let the side down”, implying that the monarchy was severely displeased with his behavior. Prince Andrew resigned from his public duties, which didn’t impact the efficiency of the monarchy’s governance since they have little political power over Britain. However this heavily impacted the persona of the monarchy, exposing toxicity and wrong behavior.
There have been prominent figures represented in the monarchy that have heavily influenced public opinion as well. Princess Diana, was an archetypal figure in the public. She was widely admired by many, but her progressive persona and friction against the monarchical status-quo sparked controversy. Princess Diana was viewed as “The People’s Princess” because of her divorce from Prince Charles and her relationship with Dodi Fayed. Although Diana maintained an unorthodox relationship with the monarchy, it struck the entire world when herself and Fayed were killed in a car accident. This has created an even stronger national tie to the monarchy, because the monarchy gave the people Diana.
Nonetheless, the presence of the Royal Family persists. This is mainly due to the strong national ties that many citizens share with the monarchy. The Queen is widely admired by Britain’s inhabitants, as well as others from around the world. The Royal Family, being one of the wealthiest and most influential families, also plays a significant role in Britain's economy. Approximately 1.8 million British Pounds is brought in each year from the Royal Family, from tourism alone. Although the media has slightly morphed the image of the monarchy in recent years, their overall popularity gives them a foundation for success, implying that the monarchy will continue for some time.
The House of Saud
The House of Saud is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and the ruling faction of such is predominantly led by the descendants of Ibn Saud, who declared the dominion of the current monarchy of Saudi Arabia in 1921. King Abdulaziz, who became known in Western Countries as Ibn Saud, began the conquering of Saudi Arabia in 1902, by restoring his family’s lineage as emirs of Riyadh, and the following conquering of first Nejd and then the Hajaz. King Abdulaziz governed the two parts of his realm as separate units, before uniting these territories into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As a result of this, Saudi Arabia’s government is one of the few in the world that is classified as an absolute monarchy.
The head of the House of Saud, who is currently King Salman Saud, serves as the Head of State and Monarch. As King, the leader remains sovereign and holds almost absolute political power. Moreover, they appoint ministers to their cabinet to supervise their respective ministries in the name of the Monarch. Most notably, the key ministries of Defence, the Interior and Foreign Affairs are usually held by members of the Saud family, as well as most of the regional governorships. Portfolios are often given to citizens, however, with junior Al Saud members adding supervision in some sects, such as: Finance, Information, Planning, Labour, Petroleum Affairs and Industry. Ultimate power in the Kingdom has always been possessed by Al Saud, with Ulema (the merchant community) and the population at large plays a key role in maintaining their position due to public support. Interestingly, unlike many Western royal families, the Monarchy of Saudi Arabia has never had a defined order of succession, though throughout history, upon their own coronation, the monarch designates an heir apparent to serve as Crown Prince and assumes power as regent. Despite the many political positions within the Saudi government, only the King and Crown Prince legally constitute the political institutions.
However, the authoritarian nature of the Saudi Arabian government, which some critics deem as quasi-theocratic, has attracted much criticism to the House of Saud, both internally and externally. Numerous incidents have occurred in attempts to remove them from power, such as the violent seizure of the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca by 500 armed and provisioned Saudi dissidents, led by Juhayman al-Otaybi and Abdullah al-Qahtani, as well as some Egyptian students from the Islamic University of Madinah. Following allowance of the Ulema, the interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam, the royal family was able to counter-strike and storm the mosque with Saudi forces. Then, following Sharia law, those responsible were publicly beheaded.
The monarch’s legal position is that of Sharia, or, Islamic Law. This is a religious law which forms part of the Islamic tradition, as it is derived from the words of The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) called “hadith,” his actions, called “Sunnah,” and the Qur’an, which are direct words from Allah (God) which the Prophet (PBUH) dictated. In Arabic, the term Sharia (sharīʿah) is an assurance of God’s incontrovertible divinity, in contrast with human scholarly interpretations, known as figh. As a whole, the rulings of Sharia law resemble legal norms elsewhere, though its rulings are also concerned with ethical standards, assigning actions to one of five categories: mandatory, recommended, neutral, abhorred and prohibited. However, Sharia law as a practise is extremely controversial, as the Western World accuses Sharia law as a source of “hysteria” and deems it responsible for inspiring “particular dread.” This is often due to the harsh punishments associated with different crimes under this decree. For example, a thief stands to have their hand amputated as a result of their crimes, or the aforementioned beheadings. Sharia law is also often associated with extremism by many outsider groups, such as mainstream conservative Republicans in the United States, despite their lack of knowledge in the subject and the hysteria Western media spreads, by equating an entire legal practise with terrorist organisations.
Though many may deem monarchies as archaic and suppressive of their people, Saudi Arabian policy is focused on cooperation with the oil-exporting Gulf States, the unity of the Arab world, Islamic strength and solidarity, and support for the United Nations. Furthermore, in some cases, the supremacy of a monarchy is also extremely beneficial, especially in the current COVID-19 crisis. While many democratic countries, such as the United States, are struggling to ensure public compliance with safeguarding measures, as exemplified with recent protests against the stay-at-home orders, the lack of the right for people to protest in conjunction with the supremacy of the monarchic nations have effectively policed people and ensured that the preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus. Essentially, the people are given no choice but to make sure they are staying safe.
Overall, it is easy to deem monarchies as destructive, as they do have their flaws pertaining to dominance and threats of totalitarianism, it is important for one to consider the historical, religious and governmental foundations. For an outsider looking in, especially those represented by a democratic system in their own country, it is clear to see that monarchies greatly contrast it, but perhaps that’s not always a bad thing.
The House of Saud is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia, and the ruling faction of such is predominantly led by the descendants of Ibn Saud, who declared the dominion of the current monarchy of Saudi Arabia in 1921. King Abdulaziz, who became known in Western Countries as Ibn Saud, began the conquering of Saudi Arabia in 1902, by restoring his family’s lineage as emirs of Riyadh, and the following conquering of first Nejd and then the Hajaz. King Abdulaziz governed the two parts of his realm as separate units, before uniting these territories into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As a result of this, Saudi Arabia’s government is one of the few in the world that is classified as an absolute monarchy.
The head of the House of Saud, who is currently King Salman Saud, serves as the Head of State and Monarch. As King, the leader remains sovereign and holds almost absolute political power. Moreover, they appoint ministers to their cabinet to supervise their respective ministries in the name of the Monarch. Most notably, the key ministries of Defence, the Interior and Foreign Affairs are usually held by members of the Saud family, as well as most of the regional governorships. Portfolios are often given to citizens, however, with junior Al Saud members adding supervision in some sects, such as: Finance, Information, Planning, Labour, Petroleum Affairs and Industry. Ultimate power in the Kingdom has always been possessed by Al Saud, with Ulema (the merchant community) and the population at large plays a key role in maintaining their position due to public support. Interestingly, unlike many Western royal families, the Monarchy of Saudi Arabia has never had a defined order of succession, though throughout history, upon their own coronation, the monarch designates an heir apparent to serve as Crown Prince and assumes power as regent. Despite the many political positions within the Saudi government, only the King and Crown Prince legally constitute the political institutions.
However, the authoritarian nature of the Saudi Arabian government, which some critics deem as quasi-theocratic, has attracted much criticism to the House of Saud, both internally and externally. Numerous incidents have occurred in attempts to remove them from power, such as the violent seizure of the al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca by 500 armed and provisioned Saudi dissidents, led by Juhayman al-Otaybi and Abdullah al-Qahtani, as well as some Egyptian students from the Islamic University of Madinah. Following allowance of the Ulema, the interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam, the royal family was able to counter-strike and storm the mosque with Saudi forces. Then, following Sharia law, those responsible were publicly beheaded.
The monarch’s legal position is that of Sharia, or, Islamic Law. This is a religious law which forms part of the Islamic tradition, as it is derived from the words of The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) called “hadith,” his actions, called “Sunnah,” and the Qur’an, which are direct words from Allah (God) which the Prophet (PBUH) dictated. In Arabic, the term Sharia (sharīʿah) is an assurance of God’s incontrovertible divinity, in contrast with human scholarly interpretations, known as figh. As a whole, the rulings of Sharia law resemble legal norms elsewhere, though its rulings are also concerned with ethical standards, assigning actions to one of five categories: mandatory, recommended, neutral, abhorred and prohibited. However, Sharia law as a practise is extremely controversial, as the Western World accuses Sharia law as a source of “hysteria” and deems it responsible for inspiring “particular dread.” This is often due to the harsh punishments associated with different crimes under this decree. For example, a thief stands to have their hand amputated as a result of their crimes, or the aforementioned beheadings. Sharia law is also often associated with extremism by many outsider groups, such as mainstream conservative Republicans in the United States, despite their lack of knowledge in the subject and the hysteria Western media spreads, by equating an entire legal practise with terrorist organisations.
Though many may deem monarchies as archaic and suppressive of their people, Saudi Arabian policy is focused on cooperation with the oil-exporting Gulf States, the unity of the Arab world, Islamic strength and solidarity, and support for the United Nations. Furthermore, in some cases, the supremacy of a monarchy is also extremely beneficial, especially in the current COVID-19 crisis. While many democratic countries, such as the United States, are struggling to ensure public compliance with safeguarding measures, as exemplified with recent protests against the stay-at-home orders, the lack of the right for people to protest in conjunction with the supremacy of the monarchic nations have effectively policed people and ensured that the preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus. Essentially, the people are given no choice but to make sure they are staying safe.
Overall, it is easy to deem monarchies as destructive, as they do have their flaws pertaining to dominance and threats of totalitarianism, it is important for one to consider the historical, religious and governmental foundations. For an outsider looking in, especially those represented by a democratic system in their own country, it is clear to see that monarchies greatly contrast it, but perhaps that’s not always a bad thing.