The Cycle of Nations defined

Monarchy, which is the head of all systems and the traditional form of all governments, can be undermined, and the nation can theoretically descend into any of the other forms (except Democracy or Empire), but will usually descend into either Aristocracy, or Oligarchy. Aristocracy will descend eventually into Oligarchy, and Oligarchy will descend into Democracy, and Democracy into Tyranny. From Tyranny, it is very difficult to escape, but eventually, unless directly invaded, the government will pull out of the tailspin and climb back up into Empire. From Empire, the government will almost certainly stabilize back into Monarchy.

Monarchy is the most stable form of government, and the longest lasting. There are objectively fewer revolts and uprisings, there are fewer schisms within the national faith, and on average the people are wealthier and enjoy more freedoms. The Traditionist pursues Monarchy in an understanding that it is a superior form, and that all other forms are the direct result of human error. That the other forms are the result of human immorality will be shown in the definitions of each form.

Monarchy

A primer on each form of government is necessary, as the enumeration of the different forms is not widely known. First, we will treat of the king. A Monarchy is a form of hereditary, family government, where one family rules the nation indirectly, and the firstborn son inherits the title and responsibility. A Monarchy also requires an extended family, and these are the nation’s nobles. Earls, Dukes, Countesses, Baronesses, Lords and Ladies are all part of the extended family of the monarch, though there will, and should be, other prominent families of noble heritage in the nation for it to function successfully. The check on the King’s power is his family, and the neighboring monarchs. Government under a Monarchy is the smallest, most local form of government, as each noble directly rules his or her own lands. A national faith is also required for the government to have the form of a Monarchy, as the king is only such if he is under God or the gods. It is not necessary for every person in the kingdom to actively practice the national faith for the monarch to exist, but the monarch must recognize the authority of a higher power than himself, from which his moral authority to rule derives, and from which he receives his own moral code.

Aristocracy

The Aristocratic form is one in which (as defined by the Greeks) the best people rule, and the transition to it from Monarchy is usually tumultuous and bloody. This form is more widely recognized in modern day as a meritocracy. Meritocracies take several forms, but the most common is a republic. They also sometimes operate on a basis of high, noble families taking turns to rule on a set schedule, and sometimes through the will of a single, high minded individual (Such as Oliver Cromwell) who leads an army, but usually this will descend directly into Tyranny. Aristocracies are capable of the least good, and the least evil. They typically exist in a state of limbo until individuals in power begin to desire wealth more than they desire morality. Aristocracies always have restrictions on who is allowed to participate in government. In a world with more Monarchies, the Aristocrats were typically the Noble families, and participation was limited to members of these elite, noble classes. In a world with more Democracies and Tyrannies, an Aristocracy typically takes on a republican form of government, and restrictions on participation in government are often limited to such things as property owners, arbitrary restrictions based on sex, age is always a factor, a specifically designated faith and good standing in that faith is often a requirement, in the modern age literacy was added as a factor, and those who actually rule must have some form of charm and charisma to seduce the participatory members of society to support them. It is understood that in an Aristocracy moral character is of the greatest concern, as is recognizable ability to rule. Thus, it is important to remember that life in an Aristocracy is typically not terrible, since the government is run by the best, meaning the most noble of character. It is, however, a very unstable and short-lived system since there are no checks on the ability of those in power to begin desiring more wealth than morality.

Oligarchy

The Oligarchical form is the natural heir of the Aristocratic government, and the transition is nearly always a bloody, tumultuous affair. Typically, whatever form of rule that existed before they take over will remain, whether a rule of powerful families or of a republic, etc. In an Oligarchy those in power retain some of the moral character of their ancestors, but only those characteristics that assist in the generation of wealth, such as work ethic, thrift, ingenuity, rhetoric, etc. It is crucial to understand that the cycle happens because of moral degradation in the hearts of the people, and this is especially true of an Oligarchical society. Only those with the wealth and power and connections to do so are able to participate in government, and moral character is no barrier to entry (Tammany Hall in the 1800’s is a great example). In this form of government, the gap between those with wealth and resources and those without grows dramatically. The heroes of this age are all “rags to riches” characters, those who came from nothing but found a way to exploit those around them and gain large amounts of wealth and power. In Oligarchy the people become restless, and often disparage of obtaining a decent living for their families.

Democracy

The restless people begin to despise even the loose moral character of the Oligarchs, and begin to think only of themselves, and it is then that we begin to enter the Democratic stage. The transition from Oligarchy to Democracy is usually tumultuous, but only sometimes bloody. In the Democratic stage voting will invariably be introduced, unless already a present institution. All people will gain the chance to participate in government, slaves, women, in some rare cases children, the poorest and most destitute, the illiterate, the totally unlearned, previously excluded minorities, etc., all will get the chance to participate via voting. This is because in the heart of the Democratic man is one ideal above all others, that of a desire for freedom. In the desperation of his surroundings, he yearns for more freedom and liberty. He despises the quiet, humble work of his fathers, and he looks for an easy way out of the trap that he believes is laid for him. He is ready to remake the world. None of the old traditions and morals of his past are of any value to the democratic man, instead, he obsesses over the Oligarchs and finds their wealth, and even the desire for it, to be repulsive. In his heart he makes war on the Oligarchs, and desires to tear them down from the proverbial ivory tower. However, the Democratic man has very little power. He will attempt to take the wealth and power of the Oligarchs, but since he has very little resources, his attempts will be brushed off like a fly by a giant. As a result, he will need to organize. The form of this organization varies tremendously, but highly organized groups of Democratic men will gain power and authority and will begin to be able to take some of the power and wealth from the Oligarchs. The Oligarchs will not approve and will develop systems and weapons and tools whereby to guard their wealth and power and will make some form of war on the Democratic man. In recognition of their inherent weakness, and in response to their deep need for freedom, the Democratic man will attempt to gain power through numbers, and simultaneously, the disenfranchised of the government will see the path to that so desired freedom through participation in government via voting. The two forces will join in opposition to the Oligarchs. It is important to recognize that even during a period of pure democracy (a thing wholly impossible in a nation larger than a few thousand people) that the Oligarchs remain, they merely have more or less ability to gain and retain wealth.

Tyranny

Into this stage of tension comes the Tyrant. The Tyrant is the most Democratic of all the Democratic men, because this person desires freedom more than even his Democratic fellows. He (or she) will be one of the people, and they will be raised up by the will of the people. Because the Democratic man is weak compared with the power and wealth of the Oligarchs, he will soon recognize the need for a champion, and that champion will be given the rule of the people, and the will and authority of that people will be with him, and he will make real war on the Oligarchs. The Transition from Democracy to Tyranny is almost without exception a bloody, tumultuous affair. The Tyrant does not always succeed in plunging the nation into a deadlock of full Tyranny, in the case of Julius Caesar, the head of the Democratic Party in Rome and a true Roman Tyrant, as were Marius and Sulla before him, the Tyrant was stopped when he was slain by the Oligarchs. If the Tyrant does succeed, participation in government will then be at the Tyrant’s admission. All rights and powers will be freely given to the Tyrant in his grand, idyllic battle against the Oligarchs and they will remain with the Tyrant—he will not give them back once bestowed on him. The wealth and power captured by the Tyrant, ostensibly to be distributed to the people, will be funneled back to the Tyrant to either make greater war, such as Hitler did with the wealth of the Jews, or will be funneled back to him for his personal pleasure. Little to nothing of the wealth and power confiscated by the people’s champion will end up in the hands of the Tyrant’s supporters, and any who may have supported the Tyrant from the beginning; but who retain some form of wealth and power will always be watched with great suspicion by the Tyrant. As the Tyrant is the most Democratic of all men, that person desires freedom above all other considerations. This desire for freedom is in conflict with all the other people’s desire for freedom, since if any Democratic man—but especially the Tyrant—desires the freedom to live in their neighbor’s house, for example, that freedom is in conflict with the other’s desire to live in their own house. Essentially, if two people want the same thing, but only one can have it, they will be in conflict with each other. The Tyrant desires all things, and thus he is in conflict with all men. This is why the Tyrants are tyrannical, because they take more and more freedom from others for themselves. It is also important to remember that even if one Tyrant is eliminated or dies a natural death, there are always a thousand more to take their place, because the Tyrant is merely the most Democratic of all the Democratic men at that time.

Empire

If Plato were fully correct, the path to the pit of Hell would end there, but thankfully there is another form that is possible to follow the Tyrannical stage in the Cycle of Nations, and that is the Empire stage. The Empire stage is something of a half-way stage between Tyranny and Monarchy, and the transition from Tyranny to this form is almost unrecognizable in the moment and typically without tumult. For the Romans it cost only one life, that of the Tyrant. In the Empire stage, participation in government is still usually only permissible at the admission of the emperor, but often Aristocratic men will gain some degree of power, and the Democratic man is sometimes still at large, often demanding more freedom—and often rebelling. Typically, an Emperor will attempt to hand pick their successor, and when this happens the government will teeter back toward Tyranny, The Empire stage quickly represses opposition that is immoral, a key factor in understanding this form. However, the Emperor still has one foot in the Tyrannical world and will often brutally suppress any opposition. Emperors have managed, through some outside influence, or internal conscientiousness, to regain some ideals of morality. They will begin to establish Traditions again, they will wear traditional garb, they will relax opposition to the noble and capable, and will, in response to their advanced morals, establish some form of national faith. It is important to recognize that these people are not paragons of morality but are usually a nation’s best hope when coming out of a Tyrannical period. They are thus sometimes so loved that they are elevated to a minor divinity status throughout antiquity.