Day 2: Monarchy & Absolutism
What is Monarchy?
Monarchy (राजतन्त्र) is one of the oldest forms of government in human history. It is a system where a single person — the monarch (king or queen) — holds supreme authority, and this power is typically inherited through bloodline rather than elected.
The word comes from Greek: mono (single) + arkhein (to rule) = rule by one person.
Types of Monarchy
1. Absolute Monarchy (निरङ्कुश राजतन्त्र)
The king has unlimited power. No parliament, no constitution limits him. His word is law. Historical examples: King Louis XIV of France ("I am the state"), and Nepal under the Rana Oligarchy and certain Shah kings.
2. Constitutional Monarchy (सांविधानिक राजतन्त्र)
The king's powers are limited by a constitution and elected parliament. The monarch is often a symbolic head of state. Examples: UK, Japan, Sweden, and Nepal from 1990–2001 under the 1990 Constitution.
3. Disguised Absolute Monarchy (Nepal's Panchayat Era)
King Mahendra created a system that appeared to have structure (पञ्चायत) but the king retained absolute control. Political parties were banned. This was called a "partyless democracy" — which was in reality just disguised monarchy.
Historical Origins
Monarchy arose naturally in ancient agricultural societies when communities needed defense, resource management, and dispute resolution. Religion played a huge role — kings were often said to rule by divine right (ईश्वरीय अधिकार). In Nepal, the Shah kings were believed to be incarnations of Vishnu — this religious legitimacy kept them in power for 240 years.
Key Thinkers on Monarchy
- Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) — Argued in Leviathan that a strong, absolute ruler is necessary to prevent society from descending into chaos.
- Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) — Wrote The Prince, advising rulers on how to gain and maintain power through cunning and ruthlessness.
- John Locke (1632–1704) — Argued the OPPOSITE: rulers derive power from the consent of the governed, and people have the right to overthrow rulers who abuse power.
The Fall of Monarchies
Nepal was one of the last countries in the world to abolish its monarchy in 2008. Unlike most countries where monarchy was abolished by force, Nepal's was ended through a largely peaceful people's movement supported by political parties and former Maoist rebels.
Nepal's Experience
- The Shah Dynasty (1768–2008) — Founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified Nepal. Lasted 240 years.
- The Rana Oligarchy (1846–1951) — The Ranas effectively captured power while the Shah king remained as a figurehead. This was a form of oligarchy (कुलीनतन्त्र) operating behind a royal facade.
Daily Quiz
Q1: Which concept describes the belief that a monarch is appointed by a higher power and is accountable only to that power?
A) The Social Contract
B) Divine Right of Kings ✓
C) Constitutionalism
D) The Mandate of Heaven
As promoted by Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, this doctrine asserts that kings are God's representatives on earth and their authority cannot be questioned by human institutions.
Q2: What primary characteristic distinguished 'Enlightened Absolutism' from traditional 17th-century absolutism?
A) The complete abolition of serfdom and class hierarchies
B) A transition to a fully democratic parliamentary system
C) The application of rationality and reform to strengthen the state ✓
D) The rejection of centralized power in favor of local noble rule
Enlightened monarchs embraced Enlightenment principles such as religious toleration and legal codification to improve the efficiency and power of their realms.
Q3: How did Louis XIV and Peter the Great similarly address the power of the nobility?
A) Both granted nobles increased legislative authority via new parliaments
B) Both centralized authority by making nobles dependent on the monarch's service or court ✓
C) Both abolished the status of nobility to promote a capitalist class
D) Both encouraged nobles to maintain independent armies
Louis XIV used Versailles to domesticate his nobles, while Peter the Great forced the boyars into military or civil service.
Q4: According to Jean Bodin's theory of sovereignty, which best describes the nature of absolute power?
A) Sovereignty is a temporary grant of power from the people to the king
B) The sovereign must share legislative power with a representative assembly
C) The sovereign is absolute and indivisible, yet remains bound by natural and divine law ✓
D) Sovereignty gives the ruler the right to act with total arbitrariness
Bodin established that while the sovereign is the ultimate human authority, they are still subject to the higher laws of God and nature.
Q5: Which event illustrates the conflict between Catherine the Great's Enlightenment ideals and maintaining absolute power?
A) The successful implementation of the Nakaz law code
B) The suppression of the Pugachev Rebellion ✓
C) The invitation of Denis Diderot to the Russian court
D) The founding of the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens
The violent serf uprising forced Catherine to abandon potential reforms in favor of securing the support of the nobility.
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Day 2 of 77 in the Political Science series.
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