Kar Shin Lin

Ms. Thompson
AP Language, Block 2, Skinny A
3 March 2015
Theocracies: Precedents, Challenges, and Implications
In the twenty-first century, people, along with ideas, are connected on a tightly woven
network spread all throughout the four corners of earth. Consequently, this rapid exchange of
beliefs presents society that has become acclimated to a certain standard of conformity.
Globalization has, in a sense, caused people to openly accept popular trends and to neglect more
historical and ethically important aspects. Societys discursive path from cultural interests
towards popular attractions is evident in many parts of the world. Therefore, the vast number of
people on this planet presents a roadblock for the rise of theocracies in many regions: increased
communication, globalization, and abundance of religious and secular perspectives impede any
one or multiple regions from establishing and maintaining a successful regime.
On any given continent, there are a multitude of religions and beliefs that people are
dogmatic towards. Our knowledge of prehistoric religion is therefore the product of
reconstructing a "language" from its silent material accessories. Among the oldest material forms
of cultic practice are burial sites, dating from the Middle Paleolithic. One can trace, from the
Upper Paleolithic on, a growing richness and diversity of grave goods that reach extravagant
proportions during the Iron Age (Edwardsen and Waller 7375). Different parts of the world
evolved with different religions. All of them present challenges to the rise of a theocracy. The
largest regions of the world, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, are all unique in that their
environments all present different issues to a religious regime.

Beginning with philosophical religions in Asia, traditions and cultures in Africa, and
adherent sects in the Middle East, a difference in ideals and beliefs has always existed around the
world. In the Asian countries like China, Korea, and Japan, the religions that are highly revered
tend to be more philosophical rather than that pertaining to a single deity: The principles of yin
and yang were associated with both the Yijing of the twenty-third century B.C.E. and Laozi, the
sixth century B.C.E. Daoist philosopher (Goulding 2060-2064). In contrast, the religions in the
Middle East and Europe tend to focus less on principles and philosophies and more on believing
in a single God. These regions make up two of the three largest monotheistic religions:
Christianity and Islam. The third exists in South Asia, where Buddhism has thrived for over a
millennium. The Arabian peninsula was one of the last places to accept monotheism, and it did
so in a distinctive form that was to dominate the Middle East thereafter This religion is called
Islam, meaning "submission to God," and its adherents are Muslims, or submitters. Its key
doctrines are summed up the words "No god but God (Allah); Muhammad is the Messenger of
God" (Shepard 2068). In addition to the religions in the Old World are those that existed in the
Western Hemisphere, mainly in Latin America. The early globalization through exploration in
the 1400s and 1500s spread Christianity and Islam through much of the world. Particularly,
Christianity took root in modern day Central America and South America. In Latin America,
the Spanish and Portuguese imported and spread Catholicism, the predominant religion, starting
with the voyages of Columbus in 1492. The belief in and practice of Christianity gradually
replaced the native belief systems; at the beginning of the twenty-first century, Catholicism itself
faced challenges from a new wave of proselytizing and conversion by several Protestant
missionary groups operating in the region (Ramirez 2066).

The existence of such a diverse array of religions impedes any attempts for one religion
to establish a strong regime. The challenges are innumerable. Factions within religions cause
hostility that further hinders a theocracys development. The varying sects of Islam exemplify
this notion: The main divisions among Muslims are based on differing views of the political
succession to Muhammad. In the Sunni view the first four caliphs (successors) were legitimately
chosen by the community and were the best rulers the community has ever had The Kharijites
held that major sins disqualified a ruler, often seeking to enforce this view by violent revolts
In the Shiite view Muhammad had chosen his son-in-law and cousin, 'Ali, as his successor, but
the majority passed him over three times. When he finally became caliph (fourth in the Sunni
reckoning), he could not stem the moral decline and was soon murdered (Shepard 2068-2069).
The different sects split over how type of caliphate should have been established and the
differences collected over time; now, the sects each have their own agenda and perspectives.
Contrary to the challenges presented here thus far, there have been exceptions where
powerful theocracies have been established. Charlemagnes reign throughout much of Europe in
the 700s and 800s A.D was one of the most powerful Christian kingdoms established. He worked
to unite all Germanic peoples and convert his subjects to Christianity. He dominance across the
continent ensured the survival of the religion ("Charlemagne"). Perhaps one of the most powerful
regimes ever established in the world is Charlemagnes empire during the 7th and 8th century
A.D. His control over a vast region in Europe united it through a common denominator:
Christianity. Conversely, Charlemagne proved that it was possible to have a successful regime.
He dispersed thousands of soldiers throughout his empire and kept order. However, his empire
only lasted two centuries for a multitude of reasons. Outside influence from the Muslims to the
east caused his strength to deteriorate. In addition, his successors were not as capable as he was,

which led to their downfall. [Other] samples of theocratic governments through history, such as
the king of Pharaonic Egypt, especially since Ramses the Great was recognized as a living god.
In ancient Rome, the emperor was usually worshiped as a deity, until Constantine I converted to
Christianity. This was also the case in China and Japan, as recently as 1911 and 1946
respectively. The city-states of the Mayas and the Inca Empires of pre-Columbian Peru are both
examples of that fit the theocracy definition ("Political Systems"). More examples of evanescent
theocracies include Pharaonic Egypt, and to a lesser extent, the Maya and Incan Empires.
Even today, there are still regimes that persist, especially in the Middle East. Within the
Vatican political system, the Pope is the head of government, and all the high ranking state
positions are held by members of the clergy. The pontifical Swiss guard (founded in 1506 by
Julius II, earlier popes merely employed Swiss mercenaries) are the popes bodyguards and the
Vaticans de facto military, while the Corpo Della Gendarmeria is the acting police force
("Political Systems"). Arguably, the Vatican is one of the most successful theocracies ever
established. It is the one political system that has remained throughout a large portion of history
and is still active today. Reasons for the Vaticans unique success are that it is the home of one of
the most powerful sects of Christianity: Catholicism, and that the Pope, leader of the sect, resides
there.
In conclusion, while theocracies have been known to exist, the conditions that supported
them in the past and with the Vatican in the present can be best described as anomalies. Such
conditions do not recur in society as often enough for a regime to be established easily. For this
reason, Islamic regimes that have risen in the past century have for the most part failed after a
short while.