“Hang the king?”: How Monarchies Present Long-Term Solutions
Throughout my life, I’ve lived, traveled, and studied in countries that were either democracies or “democracies”. I was born and raised in Turkey under an Islamic autocrat who stripped off our secular values and ripped off our pockets and have spent my last 4 years studying in the United States which is grappling with division as its democracy struggles to balance the conflicting voices and interests of its citizens. I have witnessed two very different styles of living and governance both operating under the same name of democracy, and yet both have failed to meet my expectations of what I would consider a true home country. As I began to question whether democracies assured a promising future, I turned my head to monarchies, only to find out that although democracies may seem to provide the fairest method of governance, the presence of a monarchy, although considered outdated, can offer a more sustainable path forward by providing stability, trust, and preservation of culture.
Until my twenties, I believed any kind of monarchies were detrimental to a nation and its people. Through the portrayal of brutal emperors and selfish kings in Hollywood films, as well as 21st century media depictions of oppressive monarchies in Arabic countries, my perception of monarchies was largely influenced by external forces, leading me to view them as antagonistic entities. I often wondered how it could be justified to grant absolute power to someone who may not be deserving or capable enough to wield it effectively. Along with a trepidation towards the concept of royal lineage, a strong narrative of the democratic dream of the American dynasty has ruled my perception, and perhaps millions, that everyone should and can have a say in politics. However, as I dived into monarchies, I realized that they do not always mean autocracy and that constitutional monarchies also existed alongside absolute ones (I knew that Winston Churchill and Boris Johnson existed, but I guess I never questioned it until I watched The Crown). In my argument, I will not be supporting the governance method of absolute monarchies; however, I will always be skeptical against its shortcomings until Saudi Arabia collapses into pieces. Still, in the scenario of a Mad King (in reference to Game of Thrones) I would also be searching for a democracy to hang the king.
All should accept that even in a democratic system, there are limits to our influence over those in power, as any elected leader has the potential to pursue a secret agenda that may not align with the best interests of their citizens. So, who is there to protect the interests, values, and the culture of a nation?
Monarchies have been a part of human society for thousands of years and have played a significant role in shaping and preserving the cultural and social fabric of many countries. As the subjects of matter are families that look after their countries, their love for their people is similar to that of a parent for its offspring: unending, unwavering, and always rooted in a deep sense of responsibility. Would you allow anything to corrupt your child? Monarchs do not as well. For the same reason, countries with monarchies are more unlikely to have a corrupt system. Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index puts 6 monarchies inside the top 10 countries for their absence of corruption: Denmark, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Canada. (transparency.org) Monarchies want their countries to live stable and safe lives, just like parents do for their children. Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, famously gave up her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend, a divorced man, in the 1950s. Although she was in love with him, she ultimately decided not to marry him in order to uphold traditional values and customs that were deeply ingrained in British society at the time. For citizens of the United Kingdom, this decision demonstrated the importance of upholding these values and traditions, even at the cost of personal happiness. It also highlighted the sacrifices that members of the royal family were willing to make for the greater good of the country, setting an example for future generations of leaders and citizens alike. By stabilizing the status quo of the identity of their people through centuries, monarchs act as a symbol of national identity and a sense of past, present, and future, giving their people a history, a pride, and a sense of belonging to share with each other. When Queen Elizabeth started her reign in 1952, she was only 25 years old, becoming one of the most well-known figures in Britain. Over her 70 years of rule, she dedicated her life to serving the kingdom, embodying its values and traditions, and guiding it through significant changes and challenging times. The 2012 Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the throne, was celebrated globally and showcased the admiration and respect for the British monarchy and the pride it instills in the nation. Prime Minister David Cameron described it as a time for the country to come together and reflect on both the past and future. Similarly, upon the Queen’s death, the British people mourned collectively, united in their grief. “In times of loss and grief, communal mourning can provide solace and support, creating a sense of belonging and connectedness among those who are grieving.” (Robarge) It is really important for a country’s citizens to be shoulder to shoulder, for stability, now more than ever, when there are critical choices and decisions to be made in an unstable political arena. While monarch countries have a symbol of unity keeping the public opinion stable and unified, the US- the best democracy in the world- is more divided than ever, without a monarch that holds on to the values of the country, keeping everyone on the same page.
While monarchies are swiftly solving disputes through a culturally unified perspective, not allowing economic disorder to occur, the US is displaying a mediocre performance, one no one would expect from the mighty US democracy, in making decisions. The United States is currently facing a high level of polarization in many areas, including political, social, and cultural issues. This polarization is reflected in the divide between the two major political parties, the Republicans and Democrats, and has resulted in an inability to reach a consensus on important issues and pass legislation. The lack of cooperation and trust between the two sides has led to a gridlocked government, with few major pieces of legislation being passed in recent years. In contrast, in a monarchy such as Saudi Arabia, the ultimate authority lies with the King, who is responsible for making decisions that are in the best interest of the continuity of the nation. This approach to leadership allows for quick and effective decision-making, ensuring that problems are addressed in a timely manner. By treating the country as a family business, the King promotes a sense of solidarity, encouraging the population to work together towards common goals. The King’s position as the ultimate authority provides stability and continuity, helping to avoid political chaos and uncertainty. We can see how the two entities have differed in handling their response to Covid-19. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States was hampered by conflicting opinions on how to address the crisis. Early in the pandemic, there were differing opinions on the severity of the threat and the appropriate response, with some politicians downplaying the danger and others advocating for more aggressive measures. For example, there were debates on the effectiveness of masks, social distancing, vaccination, and whether there should be a more gradual reopening of the economy or a more rapid return to normal. While Americans were debating as the outbreak reached as high as 800,000 new cases in a day around February 2022, the Saudi King always took immediate action to keep the outbreak as low as a maximum of 6000 cases a day. (The New York Times) (Worldometers) The high level of polarization in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the challenges of a democratic system in times of crisis, while the quick decision-making under a monarchy, such as in Saudi Arabia, demonstrates the advantages of a centralized system of leadership. After all, if you owned a business and there was a crisis, would you wait for your employees to debate about what to do, or would you give the ultimate decision as soon as you can to protect your precious creation? By keeping the political climate and the social fabric stable, monarchs also advance economic benefits. Alongside their contributions to the touristic scenes, monarchies also promote a consistency that attracts foreign investors who look for predictability. These investments may lead to many economic activities, that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the country. According to a report by Statista, it is a fact that five of the top five economies that the US has invested in are under the influence of monarchies: the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Canada. A stable economic and political climate also means that a predictable legal framework exists, and vice versa, which is crucial for protecting the rights of individuals and businesses, resolving disputes in a fair and efficient manner and creating a level of trust in the government and its institutions.
Although I love and have pride my amazing country that has beautiful nature, an exquisite cuisine, and a deep history, it has been divided into two, making it impossible to live in due to half the country voting for the same thief that ripped the country apart and left people to suffer for twenty-two years. It is the faith of democracies to always have opposing ideas flowing around, causing the sense of unity to fade away. Democracies are like teeter-totter that never stops swinging left to right and right to left, as new beliefs start suppressing old ones. However, there are no old or new when there are monarchies. They have been there for the people for centuries, instilling pride in people as they keep traditions and values alive and doing what is necessary without any questions for the sake of the stability that helps the country to thrive. Turkey has always been a secular republic; however, under President Erdogan, secularity in the country has been rapidly fading away. The promotion of a more conservative and religious agenda, including restrictions on press freedom and attacks on secular establishments, has led to increased tensions and raised serious concerns about the future of secularism in Turkey. The country’s shift away from secularism is a significant regression with far-reaching consequences. All this just because of democracy. If only my country had a monarchy that kept tabs on our secularity, I would perhaps study college in my home and would not be looking elsewhere to live in for a secure future.
References:
“Coronavirus in Saudi Arabia.” Worldometers, https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/saudi-arabia/.
“Interactive: Covid Cases.” The New York Times, The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html.
“Transparency International. “Corruption Perceptions Index 2022.” Transparency International, 2021, https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022.
Robarge, A. J. “Collective Mourning: Exploring the Role of Shared Grief in Building Social Connections.” Journal of Loss and Trauma, vol. 21, no. 2, 2016, pp. 103–117.
“Top 15 Countries for United States Direct Investments. Statista. n.d. Web. 01 Feb 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/188806/top-15-countries-for-united-states-direct-investments/."
