There are many theories of government, each having its own pros and cons. The main categories of government polity according to power source are Confederal, Federal, Hegemony, Imperial, and Unitary, respectively. To make things brief, here is a short explanation of each of the power sources:
- Confederal
- Federal
- Hegemony
- Imperial
- Unitary
My personal preference is a Federal one, led by a benevolent autocracy. What is this benevolent autocracy? Why is it benevolent? Are there non-benevolent monarchies? We shall discuss this in this blog post.
A benevolent autocracy, especially a constitutional one, could be safeguarded from abuse. An abusive monarch cannot simply abuse his subjects without bypassing the safeguards, that is, an independent legislative and judiciary body, not to mention an infallible constitution.
The Real Reason why we need a Patriotic Autocrat
The New Society movement of Former Philippine Dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos once had the slogan "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan disiplina ang kailangan" (Discipline is needed for the prosperity of the nation.) Despite his downfall, I still admire this slogan and the person(s) who conceived this idea. I think discipline-training towards youngsters should be re-instituted here in the Philippines. Halata naman na may kakulangan na sa disiplina ang mga Pilipino, diba? Kasi nasa ugat na ng ating lipunan ang kawalan ng patriotismo na siyang dapat nag-uudyok sa mga tao na sumunod sa batas. (It's obvious that Filipinos now lack discipline, right? The lack of patriotism, which should of brought forth obedience to the law, is now deeply embedded in our society.)
What should an autocrat do? He should be the embodiment of national identity. A good example, perhaps. "A country without a monarchy is like a body without a soul" says a Russian princess. (Though I only partially agree to that statement, since there are good countries which has a republic form of government.
Here is a definition of "benevolent autocrat":
The benevolent autocrat sees himself as a superior father figurehere who makes all the important decisions and then convinces his subordinates to go along with them. He may allow some decisions to be made by some subordinates within a framework set by himself. Rewards as well as punishments may be used to 'motivate' people.
The social contract theory, which I adhere to, is a good principle that can help people choose their benevolent autocrat.
[To Be Continued...]
