A theocracy is a system of government in which religious leaders or religious law hold ultimate authority, and the state is seen as serving a divine order.
Key thinkers:Joseph de Maistre, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles de GaulleTake the test and your match with Theocracy shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
In a theocracy, laws are based on religious scripture or doctrine, and clergy may hold political power or must approve government decisions. Examples range from ancient priest-kings to modern states such as Iran, where elected institutions operate under clerical oversight, and Vatican City.
A theocracy differs from simply having a state religion, and from religious people taking part in politics in a secular state.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
The word comes from the Greek for “rule of God” and is credited to the first-century historian Flavius Josephus.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
Counter-revolutionary philosopher · 1753–1821
A Savoyard diplomat who answered the French Revolution by defending hereditary monarchy, papal authority and tradition as the only secure basis of order.
“Considerations on France and Of the Pope hold that sovereignty must be absolute and unaccountable, and that monarchy suits it best.”
Twenty-sixth US president · 1858–1919
The US president who broke up trusts, protected large areas of land for conservation and pursued an assertive foreign policy, and who ran again in 1912 on the Progressive ticket.
“The New Nationalism puts human welfare above property rights and wants property subject to the public good.”
Soldier & statesman · 1890–1970
The leader of Free France who returned to power in 1958, wrote the Fifth Republic’s constitution and pursued a foreign policy of national independence.
“Shaped the Common Agricultural Policy, which protected European farmers from outside competition.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Religious
98% toward Religious
Leans very strongly toward Traditional
95% toward Traditional
Leans very strongly toward Autocratic
92% toward Autocratic
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
