Politics.  A word that sends people running or gets them screaming, it’s a vital part of your worldbuilding.  Today I’m just going to give you a very basic rundown of some of the different political systems that emerge as possibilities when you create your fantastical countries.

1. Monarchy

The first and arguably the most common of all political systems found in fantasies.  Whether it comes from the noble images of Charlemagne or King Arthur, there’s a mystical, timeless quality about monarchies that is no doubt attractive to fantasy writers.  The concept is pretty basic: the political power is passed down through a genetic line.  Where it gets fun is how you choose to do this and how much power your kings and queens have.  Here’s a couple of ideas:

- The throne is passed to strongest/most worthy/smartest heir.  This gives you the option of having trials, of sibling competing against sibling, of poison and intrigue.  It gives you the chance to discover what your ruler and, in direct response, your country values the highest.

- Joint-rule.  What if the king and queen had four children and didn’t want to leave the throne to just one?  They leave the kingdom to all their heirs as a joint-rule, perhaps with the stipulation that each of them oversee a different aspect of ruling eg. finance, food production, defence, art and culture.  Would this council system work or would the kingdom fall to petty in-fighting?

- The throne must pass to a different family each generation.  Here the kingdom’s health and stability would be less for the reason of creating a dynasty and more for each ruling family trying to prove that it flourished the most in their time of ruling.  Would families ally with each other, swapping the rule back and forth each generation?  How would the rulers instil a sense of cohesion and pride in their people when they’re serving under many different families?

2. Dictatorship


A great dictator or the greatest dictator?

The favourite haunt of villains.  It’s so easy to make them absolute despots in charge of shivering peasants, but remember that most dictators are benevolent leaders in their own minds.

In a dictatorship, one person (or group) holds all the political power.  They are often backed by an army.  Protests are dealt with swiftly and without mercy. The country is generally held together by powerful ideologies.

The fun part comes when you look at all the possibilities that a completely made-up world brings.  Look at the ideologies, for example.  You could have a dictatorship able to keep such absolute power because she defended her people against an external force, such as dragons or a malevolent spell or another race.  The few people who managed to survive are frightened and cling to this woman, who they view as their saviour.  If the food gets scarce and dissenters mysteriously start disappearing, well what’s all that compared to the fact that they’re still alive?

I’d love to read a story about your typical fantasy hero winning the throne at the end of their quest and slowly descending into becoming a dictator, because surely they know what’s best for their people… after all, they’re the Chosen One.

3. Democracy


You tell ‘em, Dennis.

Because sometimes people realise that, in the immortal words of Dennis the Peasant, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

A democracy is when the people govern.  Leaders are elected, everyone gets a voice, and all is right with the world.  Whether or not this is true is up to you to decide.

I haven’t come across too many fantasy countries being run by democracy, so if you know of any, please let me know in the comments.  But this just gives you even more free reign as a writer.

This type of governance would probably make more sense for a society that is more developed or established.  People living in violent, war-filled times when their neighbours are trying to kill them don’t generally then put the power to rule in those neighbour’s hands.

4. Aristocracy

The rule of the aristocrats, those who have the most.  This could be the most money, as with the original definition, the most knowledge, or the most magical power.  The key here is that those who have it all are in power.

Most monarchies have traditionally been aristocracies as well.  When King John lost absolute monarchical power by signing the Magna Carta, the power went to his barons, not his peasants.

Again, this is a great time to decide what is the most important to your kingdom, because this is going to affect which group comes out on top in an aristocracy.

5. Meritocracy

And finally, last but by no means least: meritocracy.  It’s a concept that finds its origins in Confucian teachings, and basically means the belief that political power should be in the hands of those most worthy, or with the most merit.

For many countries, this has come to mean those with the most education, and has led to places of learning aiming to give its students a rounded and moral education that will create worthy political leaders.  Here in Australia, for example, where I’ve heard it said that class divisions are based not so much on wealth but rather education, it shows up in the ideas of equality, giving everyone a ‘fair go’, and the sacred right of ‘mateship’.

I tend to think that it’s a great idea in concept, but impossible in execution, rather like communism and a true utopia.  People will be people.  There will always be corruption and those happy to game the system.  But this is a perfect time for you, in your worldbuilding, to create a country where meritocracy really could work… the important thing to think about is why.

Actually, that’s a pretty good way to bring my Worldbuilding101 to a close: if you ever want to dig deeper into your world and the people within it, just ask why.

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I’m sure there’s many other political systems that I haven’t covered.  Please let me know your favourite political systems in the comments or drop me a line on kabarkerwrites [at] gmail [dot] com.

Next up I’m going to be looking at structure, plot, and all the fun little snarls you can get in when you actually have to write the darn book.