Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1973
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Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
This is not my question originally, I have to credit JessieLong for coming up with it elsewhere. Still, I believe it gives plenty of food for thought, so here it is:
Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
--- - Firlefanz
Reading: "Unser Kosmos" by Carl Sagan
Writing: Rewrite of the Unicorn Girl YA novel
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7/20/2006, 6:42 pm
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QS2
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Registered: 03-2006
Posts: 650
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
At first glance there seems nothing against it, but there might be some problems due to unlike on Earth not all humans may be equal. If everyone is not equal, I'm not totally sure if the basic tenants would still work well, though, hmm, no nevermind, I might be overthinking matters. 
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7/20/2006, 9:41 pm
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JessieLong
Journeyman
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Registered: 01-2004
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
Uh, I did not. I plead the fifth, deny everything and trust no1.
---
Reading: Mostly comic books...
Writing : Electric Ladythief
Backburner: Scion and Ratface; The Rose and the Sword (books); Seekers (comic book series)
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7/21/2006, 10:04 am
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hadaad
NaNo Winner
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Registered: 08-2005
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 320
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
I'd say that democracy would certainly be possible in a fantasy setting.
What makes fantasy fantasy? Sure, kings and queens add a certain glamour to the pages, but I don't see anything wrong with this twist.
Who would the people vote in? The death-wielding warrior with pure morals who had just rid the country of a dragon? Maybe the illusionist who they believe can make their dreams come true.
Who knows? I think the possibilities are pretty exciting.
---
Reading: Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes
Writing: Resurrection edits
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8/18/2006, 4:55 pm
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QS2
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Registered: 03-2006
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
That is indeed a quite interesting twist, could have some pretty crazy stuff. 
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8/18/2006, 7:27 pm
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TheKid965
Knight of Honor
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Registered: 07-2006
Posts: 26
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
It would definitely be something different than the norm... I can only think of one area where it's been done before, but in that instance (the Ultima games and its world of Britannia) it was more a sort of "hybrid" monarchy/democracy governmental model (with an "elected" king working with something of a "congress" of regional governors), and was only alluded to in the games in any event... most of the discussion of it occurred in the instruction books and supplemental material included in the box, and rarely played a role in the actual storyline.
It'd be fun to try writing, though. 8^)
Last edited by TheKid965, 9/15/2006, 4:28 pm
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9/15/2006, 4:27 pm
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David Meadows
Grand Master
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
The Shire had an elected mayor. (Plus a hereditary Thain, but that was pretty much an honorary title by the end of the Third Age and administrative power lay with the mayor.)
---
See the blind man
Shooting at the world
Bullets flying, taking toll
You'd better close your eyes
You'd better bow your head
Wait for the ricochet
-- Ian Gillan Child In Time
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9/18/2006, 3:35 pm
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mspatric
Initiate
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Registered: 10-2003
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
As long as you can make it work.
A few suggestions...
-I personally add elements of democracy into my world. It's all in how you try to pull it off. Perhaps their are monarchs, but they are now nothing more than figureheads meant to serve as role models for the common people (this is the route I took).
-Perhaps monarchs led the world into bloody war after bloody war, until the common folk got so sick of it they revolted and abolished that system entirely. Even having royal blood could mean a death sentence. What fills the governmental void? Religious institutions, professional guilds, mercenaries who want to be warlords, or heaven forbid...democracy.
-Maybe some great empire swept in, slaughtered every former noble to replace them with regional administrators forbidden from passing themselves off as kings, and later collapsed. There's no royal family or cult left as the empire annihalted them entirely.
-Religion. The church (or whatever) itself rules. The very idea that kings or queens would usurp the power of rule granted SOLELY to the gods is blasphemy! On a local level towns run themselves as long as they can pay the annual tithe.
Last edited by mspatric, 12/25/2006, 2:19 am
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12/25/2006, 2:18 am
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Reythia
Squire
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Registered: 11-2005
Posts: 546
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Re: Can democracy work in a Fantasy setting?
The trouble with democracy in novels (fantasy or otherwise) is that democratic governments are -- by design -- more complicated than, say, the classic fantasy monarchy.
For example, let's say you're writing a story where the government of your territory is of direct relevance to the story, rather than just being background (like the governing of the Shire was in Tolkien). If your government is a monachy, you need to thoroughly describe perhaps a half-dozen or dozen people: the royal family and a council of advisors, warlords, mages, etc. That's a good number of people to write about in a story, and by showing what they're doing, you can give a pretty realistic picture of the politics and such in your territory.
Now imagine writing about a democracy. You've got hundreds of people directly involved in the government. Sure, some of those can be lumped together into "The Opposition" or some such -- writing a story with a democratic framework can certainly be done -- but you won't be able to show every decision as it's made and every individual who's had an effect on the governing of your territory.
I think that's part of the reason that most writers choose to avoid democracies, if they need to write about the government. It's harder and potentially more confusing on readers, simply because it involves more characters.
On the other hand, if the governing of the state is merely going to be a background in your story, then it's just as easy to write about a democracy as any other type of government. I'm not sure why more fantasy writers don't do that -- except, of course, that it's not traditional!
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4/17/2007, 7:49 pm
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