Theocracy

Teokrati Théocratie

Theocracy is a form of government in which the governmental rulers are identical with the leaders of the dominant religion, and governmental policies are either identical with or strongly influenced by the principals of the majority religion.

Typically the government claims to rule on behalf of God or a higher power, as specified by the religion in question. This implies infallacy of clerics who are government officials, and is seen as a contradicition against the democratic principle of popular sovereignity. Anti-Germans argue that in Nuclear Age infallacy of politicians must be considered a historical contradiction, and that any failsafe political system on the planet would require abolition of theocracy.

There are different forms of theocracy. One is caesaro-papism, in which power is shared between a secular ruler (an emperor) and a religious leader (a pope), or between Wahhabism and the House of Saud in Arabia. Theocracy can also be exercised directly by the clergy (as in Iran) or indirectly (such as via the divine right of kings).

This form of government was advocated by reformer John Calvin.

The opponents of theocracy are Secularism and Marxism.

See also: Oligarchy, democracy, Monarchy, Constitutional monarchy, Islamic republic