dont be! Tolkien was an anarcho-monarchist. Something like monarcho-socialism but more radical, with highly symbolic but powerless monarchs and lots of good ritual, combined with anarcho-federalism and Mutualism
“My political opinions lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning the abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs)—or to ‘unconstitutional’ Monarchy. I would arrest anybody who uses the word State (in any sense other than the inanimate real of England and its inhabitants, a thing that has neither power, rights nor mind); and after a chance of recantation, execute them if they remained obstinate! If we could go back to personal names, it would do a lot of good. Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so to refer to people.”
Tolkien’s anarchism was a decentralized voluntary association where one would swear fealty to a king and issues became common and local among people. This system was reminiscent of the Shire in his books. He supported monarchy because it acted as an involuntary position based on the catholic principle nolo episcopari. He believed this would avoid the cutthroat nature of party politics and leave the king as a figurehead that has respect and authority through voluntary exchange and respect for the monarchs position in the tradition of the country.
This made me sad.
dont be! Tolkien was an anarcho-monarchist. Something like monarcho-socialism but more radical, with highly symbolic but powerless monarchs and lots of good ritual, combined with anarcho-federalism and Mutualism
What a stupid idea
-J. R. R. Tolkien
That’s not exactly what it means: http://wikibin.org/articles/anarcho-monarchism.html
Given that definition we wouldn’t exactly call them powerless.
Edit: This Reddit thread shines light on both ‘Anarcho-Monarchism’ and J.R.R Tolkien’s beliefs: https://reddit.com/r/monarchism/comments/pvkkjy/what_is_anarchomonarchism/
from that thread , see emperor norton or notes on Tolkienism