Absolute Monarchy
An Absolute monarchy is a form of government in which one person holds all the power and authority within their realm. This individual, typically known as a monarch, may have control over laws, military forces, taxation systems, religious practices, and even foreign policy decisions. An absolute monarch is usually inherited from previous generations or ascends to the throne through some type of election process. The most prominent example of an absolute monarchy today is Saudi Arabia; however, this type of system was much more common before modern democracies began to emerge during the Enlightenment period.
The main advantage of an absolute monarchy lies in its ability to make swift decisions without having to seek approval from multiple sources. A single ruler can enact changes quickly without needing consensus or cooperation between other parties, which is often necessary for democratic forms of governance such as parliamentary systems or presidential republics. Additionally, since there is no need for constant voting processes like those seen with representative democracy models, the costs associated with running elections are saved.
However, it must be noted that there are several drawbacks associated with absolute monarchy systems, including a lack of accountability on behalf of rulers who may act against public opinion when making important decisions regarding their citizens' rights and freedoms. Furthermore, any limitations placed upon royal power by law could easily be overturned at the discretion of the ruling sovereign, leading to potential abuse if not checked by outside bodies such as the constitution or civil society groups. Lastly, many would argue that while providing stability, an absolutist regime does little to promote progressivism since it has little incentive towards reform due to its entrenched hierarchical structure, where advancement comes only from the birthright rather than meritocracy.