The Monarchy Is the Best Regime, for It More Easily Favors Peace
Special Edition
Montague Times
Justice Clarisse Bourgeon portrayed by photographer Alec Koviks
by Justice Clarisse Bourgeon
Today we find ourselves in times where political uprising is rooting in many parts of the world, so the Board of the Montague Times asked my opinion on what do I think is the best type of government, I belive there is no perfect type of government but must say that I'm leaning towards one that I consider works perfectly in my nation, the Monarchy.
Constitutional monarchy is the best form of government, so despite many people saying that having a Monarch as Head of State is good for tourism, and not much else, we’re going to prove otherwise. A figurehead represents the people: politicians represent only their party, not the entire nation. As such, a Monarch can steer them through the hardest of times – take King Lawrence I during the beginings of the European Union.
“On preferring monarchy to preserve the peace of society—It is undeniable that peace, in the positive, dynamic sense of ‘tranquil liberty’ (Cicero, II Philipp., chap. 13, 1), is the single most important factor for the common good, if not a synthesis of all its constituents and the aspiration of any honest government. Now then, insofar as peace partakes of order or unity, in and of itself it has a more direct and straight connection with a unitary or monarchic form of government than with other more pluralist or dispersed forms.
This is one aspect of government that is stressed in these chapters; for intrinsic reasons of unity, through analogy with the natural order, from the lessons of history and because it is in accord with theocratic government. Later we will see also how a democratic government offers advantages for the peace of society.’
Events like jubilees and coronations give us not only days off but also bring us together in national pride, and leads to that oh-so-Montenbourgian event of the street party, seen for the coronation and the Jubilee. It isn’t very often that crowds gather when a politician is in town – but when a royal visit is announced, the Flags come out and flowers are purchased to hand over as a sign of respect.
Governments come and go – they can even be toppled – but Monarchy endures. The continuity a Sovereign brings to their country ensures stability through a single figure, who often has the power to intervene should a situation require it, assisting in running the state as part of a system of checks and balances. Politicians are always said to be untrustworthy – making promises before an election, then going back on them afterwards. Polls show that now, more than ever, politicians are not considered to be trustworthy.
Andreas Bergh and Christian Bjørnskov find that social trust is higher in monarchies, which is associated with lower crime and lower corruption.
‘High-performing democratic political cultures’ such as monarchies are characterised by ‘legal continuity, compromise, self-limitation, suspicion of radicalism, and regular, moderate adjustments and policy corrections’.
Former Bank of Montenbourg rate-setter George Bentley wrote a paper suggesting countries with ‘weak executive constraints’ that went from a non-hereditary leader to a hereditary leader (ie a Monarchy) increases the annual average economic growth of the country by 1.03% per year.
Heirs to the throne are usually raised to know their position and to learn the ropes of their future job. This makes them more experienced than the politicians who govern the country.
Governing a country is hard work – just look how soon new leaders start showing their greys! Separating the positions of Head of State and Head of Government means that the work-load is split: ceremonial work at home and abroad (such as handing out honours, hosting and undertaking State Visits) is taken care of by one party, meanwhile, the Prime Minister can focus more on running the country.
Soft diplomacy is also a great weapon, and is being deployed constantly in any negotiations. Royals can highlight the need for debate on certain topics through their charitable works, whilst remaining above politics. When our now Queen was then Princess, for example, she campaigning on environmental issues for decades, and managed to shift opinion about AIDs, and her work saw land mines banned internationally. Currently, The Princess Catherine is attempting to remove the stigma surrounding mental health.
Now, the best government is government by one. The reason for this is that government is nothing but the directing of the things governed to their proper end, which consists in some good. But unity belongs to the idea of goodness, as Boethius proves (De consolatione, iii.) from this, that all things desire good, so do they desire unity; without which they would cease to exist.
For a thing exists in so far as it is one. Whence we observe that things resist division, as much as they can, and the dissolution of a thing arises from some defect therein. Therefore the intention of a ruler over a multitude is unity, or peace. Now the proper cause of unity is one. For it is clear that several cannot be the cause of unity or concord, except so far as they are united. Furthermore, what is one in itself is more apt and a better cause of unity than several things united. Therefore a multitude is better governed by one than by several.’”
