Why Has Monarchy Been So Successful?

Abstract

Hereditary monarchy was the dominant form of government until the modern era. In view of its obvious disadvantages, its success needs explaining. The primary explanation has four components. (1) In the pre-modern era, collective action problems made oligarchy and democracy difficult except in small states, and (2) small states have a competitive disadvantage in war against large states, so small republics tended to be eliminated by larger monarchies. (3) Oligarchies and democracies face a permanent risk of being captured by individuals who turn them into monarchies or dictatorships, and (4) dictatorships in any case tend to turn into monarchies. There are also secondary factors that help to explain monarchy’s success. In the pre-modern era it was often supported by powerful groups, notably by the aristocracy and the priesthood, for reasons of self-interest. It also had ideological support from prevailing beliefs regarding inheritance, hierarchy, and religion, and from demonstration effects. The proposed explanation of monarchy’s success in the pre-modern era is consistent with republicanism’s success in modern times and with the survival of a significant number of overt and covert monarchies in the 21st century.