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Despotism vs Monarchy - What's the difference?

despotism | monarchy |

Monarchy is a synonym of despotism.



As nouns the difference between despotism and monarchy

is that despotism is government by a singular authority, either a single person or tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way while monarchy is a government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).

despotism

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • government by a singular authority, either a single person or tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.

    • Synonyms

    * tyranny

    Related terms

    * despot * despotate * despotic

    monarchy

    English

    (wikipedia monarchy)

    Noun

    (monarchies)
  • A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).
  • * An absolute monarchy is a monarchy where the monarch is legally the ultimate authority in all temporal matters.
  • * A constitutional monarchy is a monarchy in which the monarch's power is legally constrained, ranging from where minor concessions have been made to appease certain factions to where the monarch is a figurehead with all real power in the hands of a legislative body.
  • The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
  • * Shakespeare
    • What scourge for perjury / Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?
  • A form of government where sovereignty is embodied by a single ruler in a state and his high aristocracy representing their separate divided lands within the state and their low aristocracy representing their separate divided fiefs.

    • Usage notes

    Historically refers to a wide variety of systems with a single, nominally absolute ruler (compare (m), (m)), today primarily refers to and connotes a traditional, hereditary position, often with mainly symbolic power. Typically used of rulers who use the terms (m)/(m) or (m)/(m).

    Synonyms

    * autocracy * despotism * dictatorship * tyranny

    Coordinate terms

    See also

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