Monarchy: The God That Failed

Absolute monarchy run by an altruist who is an Austrian would be the best form of government.

In fact, is anyone up for overthrowing an African government and doing just such a thing?

While we are comparing nations in Africa on terms of monarchy vs. democracy, let us compare how it works in the Middle East, according to the Index of Economic Freedom.

Bahrain (Constitutional Monarchy) (Also one of the most free states in the index)

Kuwait (Constitutional Monarchy)

Oman (Absolute Monarchy)

Israel (Western-style republic) (Far below Bahrain in terms of the entire world, BTW, and maybe should be ranked lower due to the oppression of Palestinians, or not listed at all due to its relative differences from the rest of the region, since we are trying to ascertain whether monarchy or democracy is better for about the same group of people)

Jordan (Constitutional Monarchy)

Saudi Arabia (Absolute Monarchy)

Qatar (Absolute Monarchy)

Lebanon (Republic)

Tunisia (Republic)

Egypt (Republic)

Morocco (Constitutional Monarchy)

Algeria (Republic)

Yemen (Republic)

Syria (Republic)

Iran (Republic)

Libya (Republic)

Iraq is not given a rank, but I think we can suppose that it really, really sucks, and we should also keep in mind that it was a disaster under Saddam. Seeing as how the top tier is dominated by monarchies and that the bottom is full of republics, I think we can safely say that the truth of Hoppe's thesis is demonstrated once again.

Stranger:

No, it is only better, economically, than democracy. That is the point Hoppe makes and that you seem to be having a problem with.

Why do you assume I have a problem with that? Because of the title of this post? Is that why you assume this?

 

ryanpatgray:

Stranger:

No, it is only better, economically, than democracy. That is the point Hoppe makes and that you seem to be having a problem with.

Why do you assume I have a problem with that? Because of the title of this post? Is that why you assume this?

 

Why, yes, it is.

Stranger:

ryanpatgray:

Stranger:

No, it is only better, economically, than democracy. That is the point Hoppe makes and that you seem to be having a problem with.

Why do you assume I have a problem with that? Because of the title of this post? Is that why you assume this?

 

Why, yes, it is.

 

I was just playing off the title of the book, I did not think you would take the title of the post so literally . . . .

Well, a lot of monarchies, if not all, were created by the gods...or so claimed the monarchs and the oligarchies that supported them. All those monarchies don't exist anymore - it can be safely assumed they failed - despite their supernaturally granted powers... .

More accurately, they were overthrown by democratic majorities. 

So basically, we have replaced governments we can overthrow with governments we cannot overthrow.

Juan:

Well, a lot of monarchies, if not all, were created by the gods...or so claimed the monarchs and the oligarchies that supported them. All those monarchies don't exist anymore - it can be safely assumed they failed - despite their supernatural granted powers...

They failed to curb the growth of power of legislative assemblies they had created - which then rebranded themselves as democracies.

Stranger and Byzantine, your 'knowledge' of history is amazing. (Western) monarchies were basically overthrown by libertarianism. But since you oppose libertarianism, I guess you're bound to misrepresent things the way you constantly do...

Juan:

Stranger and Byzantine, your 'knowledge' of history is amazing. (Western) monarchies were basically overthrown by libertarianism. But since you oppose libertarianism, I guess you're bound to misrepresent things the way you constantly do...

Ah yes, the good old libertarian guillotine.

Precisely - equating libertarianism and the jacobines shows you're either clueless or lying - or maybe both.

Juan:

Precisely - equating libertarianism and the jacobines shows you're either clueless or lying - or maybe both.

I equated the end of monarchy with the jacobines. You're the one under the delusion that libertarianism ended monarchy. In most senses monarchies were the driving force of liberation in Europe. It was when the monarchy was seized by the assemblies that european liberalism died.

In most senses monarchies were the driving force of liberation in Europe.

Liberation from what ?

Juan:

In most senses monarchies were the driving force of liberation in Europe.

Liberation from what ?

Feudal privilege and custom.

It was in the monarchies that capitalist revolutions took place. England in the 18th century, France under the restoration and second empire, Germany under the Kaiser, and Russia under the last czars.

It was under democracy that capitalism was rolled back. England in the 19th century, France under the third republic, Germany under the Weimar republic, and pretty much the whole mess of post-Habsburg central Europe.

Feudal privilege and custom.

Wait a second. According to Hoppe, the world was ruled by 'natural elites' who were, of course, wise and benevolent, but, according to Hoppe, those natural elites were overthrown by monarchy. So which party line are you going to follow now ?

It was in the monarchies that capitalist revolutions took place. England in the 18th century, France under the restoration and second empire, Germany under the Kaiser, and Russia under the last czars.

You need a basic history book ASAP !! Capitalist revolution in Russia ??

England in the 18th century : best described as mercantilistic.

England in the 19th century : closer to laissez-faire.

France under the restoration and second empire, : So the militaristic and totalitarian Napoleon II was 'capitalistic'. (Btw, did you know that Molinari fled France when Napoleon II seized power)

Germany under the Kaiser : Which kaiser ? Are you talking about late 19th century, Bismarck and the origins of fascism ?

Germany under the Weimar republic, : If anything, it was the conservative/corporatist Bismarck the one resposible for the downfall of Germany.

edit : errata : Napoleon II should read Napoleon III (who, oh joy, started the Franco-Prussian war in 1870...)

Juan:

Germany under the Kaiser : Which kaiser ? Are you talking about late 19th century, Bismarck and the origins of fascism ?

Germany under the Weimar republic, : If anything, it was the conservative/corporatist Bismarck the one resposible for the downfall of Germany.

I can only laugh at such misconceptions.

What, you know nothing about the connection between the 'aristocratic' and conservative Bismarck, his socialist policies, and fascism ?

Where do you come up with this nonsense? What is "libertarian" about a transition to democracy? Absolutely nothing. If the individuals responsible for this transition called themselves "libertarians" they were misguided fools. A big thank you to these wonderful "libertarians" who gave us modern democracy.

-Jon

I'm not defending democracy. You can't do better than posting a silly strawman can you ?

What is "libertarian" about a transition to democracy?

Where did I say the transition to democracy was "libertarian" ? Tsk, tsk.

Right, and which precisely are these "Libertarians" which overthrew monarchy?

-Jon