Countries that have a monarchy in our time. Modern monarchs of the world

A monarchical state or, in other words, a monarchy is a state in which power, in whole or in part, belongs to one person - the monarch. This could be a king, king, emperor or, for example, a sultan, but any monarch rules for life and passes on his power by inheritance.

Today there are 30 monarchical states in the world and 12 of them are monarchies in Europe. A list of monarchy countries located in Europe is given below.

List of monarchy countries in Europe

1. Norway is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy;
2. Sweden is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy;
3. Denmark is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy;
4. Great Britain is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy;
5. Belgium – kingdom, constitutional monarchy;
6. The Netherlands – kingdom, constitutional monarchy;
7. Luxembourg – duchy, constitutional monarchy;
8. Liechtenstein – principality, constitutional monarchy;
9. Spain is a kingdom, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy;
10. Andorra is a principality, a parliamentary principality with two co-rulers;
11. Monaco – principality, constitutional monarchy;
12. The Vatican is a papal state, an elective absolute theocratic monarchy.

All monarchies in Europe are countries in which the form of government is a constitutional monarchy, that is, one in which the power of the monarch is significantly limited by the elected parliament and the constitution adopted by it. The only exception is the Vatican, where absolute rule is exercised by the elected Pope.

Modern political science can give full description any form of state (device political organization society) based on the form of government, the form of state-territorial structure and the type of political regime.

Forms of government

A form of government is a way of organizing the supreme state power. There are two forms of government - monarchy and republic. Monarchy, in turn, can be of the following types:

• absolute (all executive, legislative and judicial powers are concentrated in the hands of the monarch);
• constitutional or parliamentary (the power of the monarch is limited by the constitution, the real executive and legislative power is in the hands of a parliament elected or formed by the people);
• dualistic (power is divided equally between the monarch and parliament);
• theocratic (power is in the hands of the spiritual leader who heads a particular denomination).

The republican form of government exists in such forms as

• presidential (power is concentrated in the hands of the elected president);
• parliamentary (the country is led by parliament or the prime minister; the president performs only representative functions);
• mixed (power is divided between parliament and the president).

Form of state-territorial structure

Forms of state-territorial structure are a way of interconnection and interaction of individual parts of the state, enshrined in the constitution. There are forms such as

• federation (a union of relatively independent subjects subordinate to the political center in all important matters);
• unitary state (a single and indivisible state, consisting only of administrative units);
• confederation (a temporary union of states completely independent from each other).

Political regimes

A political regime is a set of methods and means of exercising state power. There are such types of political regimes as

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• democratic (power is in the hands of the people, civil rights and freedoms are both declared and actually work);
• undemocratic (power is in the hands of the ruling elite, a political minority, civil rights and freedoms are only declared, but do not work in practice).

A non-democratic political regime also has certain subtypes: authoritarian and totalitarian (the difference lies in the level of government control over society).

Most countries Foreign Europe- republics different types with democratic political regimes. The Republics of Foreign Europe are France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria.

But despite this, there is large number countries of Foreign Europe with a monarchical form of government. How many are there?

Monarchies of Foreign Europe

Which states can be included in the list of “Monarchical countries of Foreign Europe”?

It can be represented as follows.

Fig.1 The ruling royal house of Windsor

Country	Form of political organization	Form of government
Norway	Kingdom (ruling house - Gluckburg dynasty)	Constitutional monarchy
	Kingdom (ruling house - Bernadot dynasty)	Constitutional monarchy
	Kingdom (ruling house - Glucksburg dynasty)	Constitutional monarchy
United Kingdom	Kingdom (ruling house - Windsors)	Constitutional monarchy
	Kingdom (ruling house - Saxe-Coburg-Gotha dynasty)	Constitutional monarchy
Netherlands	Kingdom (ruling house - Oran-Nassau)	Constitutional monarchy
Luxembourg	Duchy (ruling house - Bourbons of Parma)	Constitutional monarchy
Liechtenstein	Principality (ruling house - Savoy dynasty)	Constitutional monarchy
	Kingdom (ruling house - Bourbons)	Parliamentary monarchy with a dualistic bias
	Principality (ruling house - Bourbons)	Constitutional monarchy
	Principality (ruling house - Grimaldi)	Constitutional monarchy
	Papal State	Elective absolute theocratic monarchy

The Vatican is not the only state with an elective theocratic absolute monarchy. The second state is Iran, where the government for a long time held by the spiritual leader - Ayatollah Khomeini.

Thus, quite a large number of large European countries are monarchies. They are especially great specific gravity in Northern Foreign Europe (if you look at their location on the map).

Rice. 2 Political map of Overseas Europe

Almost all modern dynasties are connected by blood ties. Royal House In Great Britain, the Windsors are representatives of both the Saxon-Coburg - Gothic dynasty and the Glucksburg dynasty. The oldest uninterrupted dynasty is the princely house of Grimaldi. The throne has been passed down in a direct line from father to son for 700 years.

Fig.3 Chapter ruling house Monaco - Prince Albert II Grimaldi

What have we learned?

Most of the monarchical countries of Foreign Europe are constitutional monarchies. This means that all legislative, executive and judicial powers are in the hands of parliament and the elected prime minister or chancellor. The monarch plays a representative role, although he can speak out on key issues of foreign and domestic policy. In some countries, such as Great Britain, the monarch is a significant figure in the political arena. Elizabeth II, the reigning queen, actively intervened in the activities of many prime ministers: Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and others.

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In our modern world 41 states have a monarchical form of government. All these countries mostly belong to the 3rd world and were formed as a result of the collapse of the colonial system. Often created along colonial administrative boundaries, these states are very unstable entities. They can fragment and change, as can be seen, for example, in Iraq. They are engulfed in ongoing conflicts, like a significant number of countries in Africa. And it is absolutely obvious that they do not belong to the category of advanced states. However, I would like to note that the monarchical system has many faces: from tribal forms of government that are used in Arab states to monarchical forms in many European countries.

List of states with a monarchical system:

Europe
Andorra - co-princes Nicolas Sarkozy (since 2007) and Joan Enric Vives i Sicilha (since 2003)

Belgium - King Albert II (since 1993)

Vatican - Pope Benedict XVI (since 2005)

Great Britain - Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

Denmark - Queen Margrethe II (since 1972)

Spain - King Juan Carlos I (since 1975)

Liechtenstein - Prince Hans-Adam II (since 1989)

Luxembourg - Grand Duke Henri (since 2000)

Monaco - Prince Albert II (since 2005)

Netherlands - Queen Beatrix (since 1980)

Norway - King Harald V (since 1991)

Sweden - King Carl XVI Gustaf (since 1973)

Asia
Bahrain - King Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa (since 2002, emir 1999-2002)

Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (since 1967)

Bhutan - King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk (since 2006)

Jordan - King Abdullah II (since 1999)

Cambodia - King Norodom Sihamoni (since 2004)

Qatar - Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 1995)

Kuwait - Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah (since 2006)

Malaysia - King Mizan Zainal Abidin (since 2006)

United United Arab Emirates UAE - President Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan (since 2004)

Oman - Sultan Qaboos bin Said (since 1970)

Saudi Arabia- King Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz al-Saud (since 2005)

Thailand - King Bhumibol Adulyadej (since 1946)

Japan - Emperor Akihito (since 1989)

Africa
Lesotho - King Letsie III (since 1996, first time 1990-1995)

Morocco - King Mohammed VI (since 1999)

Swaziland - King Mswati III (since 1986)

Oceania
Tonga - King George Tupou V (since 2006)

A number of republican countries are forced to put up with the presence of local monarchical or tribal formations on their territory. Such countries include: Uganda, Nigeria, Indonesia, Chad and others. The government turns to authoritative monarchs when it comes to resolving religious, ethnic and cultural disputes.

However, the monarchy is not an addition to stability and prosperity, but an additional resource, thanks to which the country can overcome or endure one or another crisis. They are created from time immemorial, their title is passed down from generation to generation.

African autocrats

Benin. Joseph Langanfen, representative of the Abomi dynasty

Nigeria. Igwe Kenneth Nnaji Onimeke Orizu III. Obi (king) of the Nnewi tribe.

Benin. Agboli-Agbo Dejlani. King of abomi. A former policeman, he had to wait six years for retirement before finally being proclaimed in a secret ceremony the head of one of the Abomi clans.

Nigeria. In 1980, Sijuwade became the 50th oni (king) of Ilfa, one of the oldest African dynasties. Today it is richest businessman, owning extensive properties in Nigeria and England.

Cameroon. Fon (king) Banjuna is the brother of brave and powerful animals. At night, he can turn into a panther and hunt in a shroud.

Ghana. Ocediyo ado Danqua III. A graduate of the University of London and an economic adviser to the Ghanaian government.

Congo. Nyimi Kok Mabintsh III, King of Cuba. Now he is 50.

South Africa. Goodwill Zwelethini, King of the Zulu.

Nigeria. Oba Joseph Adekola Ogunoye. Olovo (king) of the Ovo tribe.

Yuri Kim

No.	Region	Country	Form of government
	E V R O P A	Great Britain (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)	KM
	Spain (Kingdom of Spain)	KM
	Belgium (Kingdom of Belgium)	KM
	Netherlands (Kingdom of the Netherlands)	KM
	Monaco (Principality of Monaco)	KM
	Liechtenstein (Principality of Liechtenstein)	KM
	Sweden (Kingdom of Sweden)	KM
	Norway (Kingdom of Norway)	KM
	Denmark (Kingdom of Denmark)	KM
	Luxembourg (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg)	KM
	Andorra (Principality of Andorra)	KM
	Vatican	ATM
	A Z I Z	Brunei (Brunei Darussalam)	ATM
	Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)	ATM
	Qatar (State of Qatar)	AM
	Oman (Sultanate of Oman)	AM
	Kuwait (State of Kuwait)	KM
	Bahrain (State of Bahrain)	KM
	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	KM
	Bhutan (Kingdom of Bhutan)	KM
	Cambodia (Kingdom of Cambodia)	KM
	Thailand (Kingdom of Thailand)	KM
	Malaysia (Federation of Malaysia)	KM
	Japan	KM
	Jordan (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)	KM
	AFRICA	Morocco (Kingdom of Morocco)	KM
	Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland)	KM
	Lesotho (Kingdom of Lesotho)	KM
	Oceania	Tonga (Kingdom of Tonga)	KM

Note: KM is a constitutional monarchy;

AM – absolute monarchy;

ATM is an absolute theocratic monarchy.

Republican form of government originated in ancient times, but greatest distribution received during the periods of new and modern history. In 1991, there were 127 republics in the world, but after the collapse of the USSR and Yugoslavia their total number exceeded 140.

Under a republican system, legislative power usually belongs to parliament, and executive power to the government. At the same time, a distinction is made between presidential, parliamentary and mixed republics.

Presidential Republic characterized by the significant role of the president in the system of government bodies, combining in his hands the powers of the head of state and head of government. It is also called a dualistic republic, thereby emphasizing the fact that strong executive power is concentrated in the hands of the president, and legislative power in the hands of parliament.

Distinctive Features this form of government:

· extra-parliamentary method of electing the president (either by the population - Brazil, France, or by the electoral college - USA),

· extra-parliamentary method of forming a government, that is, it is formed by the president. The president is both formally and legally the head of the government (there is no post of prime minister, as, for example, in the USA), or he appoints the head of government. The government is responsible only to the president, and not to parliament, since only the president can dismiss him,

· in general, with this form of government, the president has much greater powers compared to a parliamentary republic (he is the head of the executive branch, approves laws by signing, has the right to dismiss the government), but in a presidential republic the president, as a rule, is deprived of the right to dissolve parliament , and parliament is deprived of the right to express no confidence in the government, but can remove the president (impeachment procedure).

The United States of America is a classic presidential republic. The US Constitution is based on the principle of separation of powers. According to this constitution, the legislative power belongs to Congress, the executive power belongs to the president, and the judicial power belongs to Supreme Court. The president, elected by an electoral college, forms a government of people belonging to his party.

Presidential republics are common in countries Latin America. This form of government is also found in some countries in Asia and Africa. True, sometimes in these countries the power of the head of state actually goes beyond the constitutional framework, and, in particular, Latin American presidential republics characterized by researchers as super-presidential.

Parliamentary (parliamentary) republic characterized by the proclamation of the principle of the supremacy of parliament, to which the government bears full responsibility for its activities.

In such a republic, the government is formed through parliamentary means from among the deputies of the parties that have a majority of votes in parliament. It remains in power as long as it has the support of a parliamentary majority. This form of government exists in countries with developed, largely self-regulating economies (Italy, Turkey, Germany, Greece, Israel). Elections in this system of democracy are usually held according to party lists, that is, voters vote not for a candidate, but for a party.

The main function of parliament, in addition to legislation, is control over the government. In addition, the parliament has important financial powers, since it develops and adopts the state budget, determines the paths of the country's socio-economic development, and resolves the main issues of the state's domestic, foreign and defense policy.

The head of state in such republics, as a rule, is elected by parliament or a specially formed broader board, which, along with members of parliament, includes representatives of the constituent entities of the federation or representative regional bodies of self-government. This is the main type of parliamentary control over the executive branch.

In Italy, for example, the president of the republic is elected by members of both chambers at their joint meeting, but three representatives from each region, elected by regional councils, participate in the elections. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the President is elected by the Federal Assembly, consisting of members of the Bundestag and the same number of persons elected by the Landtags of the states on the basis of proportional representation. In parliamentary republics, elections can also be general, for example, in Austria, where the president is elected by the population for a term of 6 years.

With this form government they talk about a “weak” president. However, the head of state has fairly broad powers. He promulgates laws, issues decrees, has the right to dissolve parliament, formally appoints the head of government (only the head of the party that won the elections), and is commander-in-chief armed forces, has the right to grant amnesty to convicted persons.

The President, being the head of state, is not the head of the executive branch, that is, the government. The prime minister is formally appointed by the president, but can only be the head of the faction with a parliamentary majority, and not necessarily the head of the winning party. It should be noted that the government is competent to govern the state only when it enjoys the confidence of parliament.

Mixed Republic(also called a semi-presidential, semi-parliamentary, presidential-parliamentary republic) is a form of government that cannot be considered a type of either a presidential or a parliamentary republic. Among the modern ones, the fifth republic in France (after 1962), Portugal, Armenia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Slovakia are mixed.

A special form of government - socialist republic (which arose in the 20th century in a number of countries as a result of the victory socialist revolutions). Its varieties: Soviet republic and people's democratic republic ( former USSR, countries Eastern Europe until 1991, as well as China, Vietnam, North Korea, Cuba, which remain socialist republics today).

The republican form of government can be considered the most progressive and democratic. It was chosen not only by economically developed states, but also by most countries in Latin America, which freed themselves from colonial dependence in the last century, and almost all former colonies in Asia, which gained independence in the middle of this century, as well as African states, most of which achieved independence only in the 60-70s of the XX century. and even later.

At the same time, it must be borne in mind that such a progressive form of government does not at all unify the republics. They differ quite significantly from each other in political, social and other respects.

It should be noted the peculiar form of government - interstate associations: Commonwealth, led by Great Britain (Commonwealth) And Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS, which includes Russia).

Legally, the British Commonwealth of Nations was formalized back in 1931. Then it included Great Britain and its dominions - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Union of South Africa, Newfoundland and Ireland. After the Second World War and the collapse of the British colonial empire, the vast majority of Britain's former possessions became part of the Commonwealth - about 50 countries with common territory more than 30 million km 2 and a population of over 1.2 billion people located in all parts of the world.

Members of the Commonwealth have the unconditional right to unilaterally withdraw from it whenever they wish. It was used by Myanmar (Burma), Ireland, and Pakistan. All states included in the Commonwealth have full sovereignty in their internal and external affairs.

In Commonwealth states that have a republican form of government, the Queen of Great Britain is proclaimed "the Head of the Commonwealth... a symbol of free association independent states- its members." Some members of the Commonwealth are Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Mauritius, Jamaica and some others are officially referred to as “states within the Commonwealth”. Supreme power in these countries, it formally continues to belong to the British monarch, who is represented in them by the governor-general, appointed on the recommendation of the government of the given state. The highest body of the Commonwealth is the Conference of Heads of Government.

In 1991, simultaneously with the signing of the Belovezhsky Accords on the dissolution of the USSR, it was decided to create Commonwealth of Independent States(Russia, Ukraine, Belarus). Subsequently, all the former republics of the USSR, except the three Baltic states, joined the CIS. Goals: to promote the integration of CIS member countries in the economic, political and humanitarian fields, to maintain and develop contacts and cooperation between peoples, government institutions Commonwealth countries. The CIS is an open organization for other countries to join. IN different years subregional associations emerged within the CIS: Central Asian economic community(Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine are accepted as observers) and GUUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova). In 1996, the Customs Union was created, uniting the economic space of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (later Tajikistan joined them. In October 2000, the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) was formed on the basis of the customs union. They continue to form among the member countries CIS and military-political associations (for example, the Treaty on collective security). In September 2008, after the conflict in South Ossetia Georgia has announced its desire to secede from the commonwealth.

Form government structure (administrative-territorial structure of states) is an important element political map peace. It is directly related to the nature of the political system and the form of government, reflects the national-ethnic (in some cases also religious) composition of the population, and the historical and geographical features of the formation of the country.

There are two main forms of administrative-territorial structure - unitary and federal.

Unitary state - this is a single integral state entity, consisting of administrative-territorial units that are subordinate to the central authorities and do not possess signs of state sovereignty. In a unitary state there is usually a single legislative and executive power, unified system government bodies, a single constitution. There are an overwhelming majority of such states in the world.

Federation - a form of device in which several state entities, legally possessing a certain political independence, form one union state.

Characteristic signs federations:

The territory of the federation consists of the territories of its individual subjects (for example, states - in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, India, USA; provinces - in Argentina, Canada; cantons - in Switzerland; lands - in Germany and Austria; republics, as well as other administrative entities ( autonomous okrugs, territories, regions - in Russia);

Federal subjects are usually given the right to adopt their own constitutions;

The competence between the federation and its subjects is delimited by the union constitution;

Each subject of the federation has its own legal and judicial systems;

In most federations there is a single union citizenship, as well as the citizenship of the union units;

A federation usually has unified armed forces and a federal budget.

In a number of federations, the union parliament has a chamber representing the interests of members of the federation.

However, in many modern federal states the role of general federal bodies is so great that they can essentially be considered unitary rather than federal states. Thus, the constitutions of such federations as Argentina, Canada, the USA, Germany, Switzerland do not recognize the right of members of the federation to leave it.

Federations are built on territorial (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.) and national characteristics (Russia, India, Nigeria, etc.), which largely determine the nature, content and structure of government.

Confederation - is a temporary legal union of sovereign states created to ensure their common interests(members of the confederation retain their sovereign rights both in internal and external affairs). Confederate states are short-lived: they either disintegrate or turn into federations (examples: the Swiss Union, Austria-Hungary, as well as the USA, where a federation of states was formed from a confederation established in 1781, enshrined in the US Constitution of 1787).

Most states in the world are unitary. Today only 24 states are federations (Table 4).

Reading historical novels with the constant presence of states ruled by kings, emperors, pharaohs, shahs, sultans, grand dukes and dukes, one thinks that this is all a distant past. For generations, brought up on an atheistic, socialist and who knows what idea now, the citizens of Russia have forgotten that the monarchy is still strong all over the world - power from God. In different states, it is still legitimate and respected by the majority of its people. This article will tell you in which countries the monarchy has been preserved and how firmly it holds power in changed conditions.

Rulers of Europe, Middle East

The undoubted leader of monarchs around the world in terms of authority, length of time on the throne, the power of her country with dominions throughout the planet, over which the Sun still does not set, is the Queen of Great Britain, the head British Commonwealth nations Elizabeth II. She has ruled since 1952.

An interesting fact is that the representative of the ruling dynasty is not only the supreme commander, but also the head of the Anglican Church. Apparently, the Windsor monarchs solve with an iron hand not only worldly problems, but also religious matters, leaving nothing outside their control.

Despite the authoritarianism of Elizabeth II, the question of which countries have an absolute monarchy does not apply to her. In Great Britain there is a parliamentary monarchy, when in this case the queen's power is limited by the constitution, she performs mainly representative functions. It’s just hard to believe this.

Parliamentary view constitutional monarchy also in Denmark - since 1972, Queen Magrethe II, Sweden - since 1973, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Kings also rule:

• Spain – Philip VI (since 2014).
• The Netherlands – Willem-Alexander (since 2013).
• Belgium – Philip (since 2013).
• Norway – Harald V (since 1991).

Monaco has been ruled by Prince Albert II since 2005. There is a curious situation in Andorra - there are two co-rulers: Prince Joan Enric Vives i Sicilha since 2003 and French President François Hollande since 2012.

In general, the vaunted European democracy against the background of the triumph of the monarchical system that came from time immemorial makes a rather strange impression. Despite the presence of parliaments and other elected institutions of power, the monarchs of many European states are not decorative, but real rulers, respected and loved by their people.

Which countries have an absolute monarchy? These are mainly Middle Eastern countries, such as:

• Oman;
• Qatar;
• Saudi Arabia.

Here, monarchs have truly unlimited power, like the rulers of the past, having the ability to execute and pardon, to rule the country, in accordance only with own opinion. Perhaps to give a hint of new democratic trends, in some of these countries the people can sometimes express their aspirations through deliberative organizations.

Monarchs of the New World

The form of government in many countries discovered by Europeans and called the New World, long ago and often earlier than the states of the Old World, was already ruled individually by local rajahs, sultans, emirs, as well as kings and emperors.

In which countries does the monarchy still exist today?

• Japan. Emperor Akihito. Ruled since 1989. Wants to resign due to health reasons.
• Malaysia. King Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah.
• Cambodia. Ruled by King Norodom Sihamoni.
• Brunei. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Those who have visited Thailand know with what respect and love the people of the country treat their monarch. When there was an attempt to legislatively limit his power, a political crisis erupted in the country, which almost ended civil war. Recently, in October 2016, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who had ruled Thailand since 1946, died and a year of mourning was declared in the country.

The answers to the question - in which countries the monarchy has been preserved - are often very unexpected and provide food for thought. It turns out that half the world lives under the “oppression” of individual rulers, but not only does not create Marxist circles, printing proclamations calling for the overthrow of tyrants, but sincerely loves their monarchs, members ruling dynasties. For example, in the UK, Thailand, and.