Chapter 8
Monarchy
*****************
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected . These exceptions make it difficult to define “monarchy” precisely; the most objective and comprehensive (albeit circular) definition would seem to be that a monarchy is a government that calls itself a monarchy. The monarch often bears the title king or queen. However, emperors/empresses, grand dukes/grand duchesses, princes /princesses and other ranks , are or have been used to designate duchesses,
As explained below, the word monarch means ‘single ruler’, but cultural historical considerations would appear to exclude presidents and other heads of state. Historically, the notion of monarchy may emerge under different circumstances. It may grow out of tribal kingship , and royal priesthood and the office of monarch (kings) becoming typically hereditary, resulting in successive dynasties or “houses”, especially when the leader is wise and able enough lead. It may also be a consequent emergence after an act of violence is committed upon local communities by an invading group, which usurps the communities rights over traditions.
The leader of the usurping group establishes himself as a monarch. A state of monarchy is said to result that reveals the relationships between resources, communities, monarch and his office. Even in antiquity, the strict hereditary succession could be tempered by systems or elective monarchy, where an assembly elects a new monarch out of a pool of eligible candidates. This concept has also been modernized, and constitutional monarchies where the title of monarch remains mostly ceremonial, without, or with very limited political power.
Currently, 44 sovereign nations in the world have monarchs acting as heads of state, 16 of which are Commonwealth realms that recognize Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state. The historical form of absolute monarchy is retained only in Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, and Vatican City.