Government Types For World Building In Story Writing

Creating a credible setting for a story is one of the worldbuilding’s primary objectives. But there needs to be some kind of social structure in place once geography, magic, and wonderful mythological beings have been understood. The government that governs a region is the social structure that perhaps has the biggest impact on how that region feels. A plot can be shaped by who you pick to rule your characters and how you can shape a story. Here are some examples of common government types for world building in story writing.

Empire

In this kind of government, State is governed by single ruler. Ruler has full power to choose or decide what happens within the state. Area governed by the empire differ and it can be made up of small cities with their separate forms of government. But the ultimate power remains in the hand of single person.

Monarchy

It has a rich, real-world history to draw from and can be studied in great detail if necessary. It is also simple and figurehead-focused. Most readers will be able to identify the roles of the lords, princes, and princesses as well as the position of the peasants in the overall scheme which is to say: not at all, right up to the point they gather in vast numbers and revolt.

Depending on the monarch’s temperament, monarchies can be characterized as either benevolent or tyrannical, though this is not always the case. There are just as many tales of aristocrats defending their monarch or people as there are of peasant heroes battling the establishment. This paradigm can also be used in science fiction, but it is typically used to make comparisons to actual governments. By following a concept to its logical or at least one reasonable conclusion, science fiction can subtly ridicule in this way.

Theocracy

In this case, God is in direct control of the people. In a real theocracy, God makes the decisions and deals directly with the populace like an absolute monarch, even though there may or may not be priests who serve God. Naturally, religious fiction and mostly fantasy and science fiction are the only genres that actually use this form of government. If you decide to adopt this form of administration, let me give you some advice: it removes the sense of realism from your story because, in reality, Additionally, it minimizes the requirement for faith in your character. Even while theocracy predominated in ancient Israel before the kings, this kind of administration in your fictional planet is prone to chaos.

Democracy

A system in which people vote for representatives to represent them in government or exercise power with their interests in mind. The idyllic image of the US government is the most widely used illustration. The senators, governors, and presidents are chosen by the electorate to represent the views of the people on particular subjects. With an emphasis on the individual, power and state are separated. Everyone considers their own self-interest as well as the interest of the group. One challenge with democracy is that not everyone has the time to educate themselves on every topic. This frequently results in rash decisions.

The best solution is to choose representatives who consider the needs of regular people. However, instead of determining who is the greatest candidate for the position, elections increasingly become popularity contests, which creates a system in which the unscrupulous seize control of the government through the manipulation of voting. Democracy and capitalism are currently coexisting, with the wealthiest accumulating the most authority in a race to collect the most capital. However, a democratic monarchy, anarchy, or theocracy are all conceivable. The ability of citizens to make decisions as a group is a distinguishing characteristic.

Dictatorship

This is another kind of single ruler government type. In this type of government, rules that are set, they are kind of oppressive and individual freedoms are very limited.

Anarchy

A place that is anarchic is frequently thought of as dangerous and chaotic. However, the author wants to push those ideas a little bit further here. In a system without rules, anarchy seeks to undermine the social structure and render it invalid. Anarchy creates order and establishes equality for people who are subjected to structural oppression. It is a dynamic process concerned with the rights of individuals impacted by institutional power, not its ultimate aim. Anarchy can have a chieftain or even take on a nomadic lifestyle without claiming any particular territory. History’s French Revolution, which included the Women’s March on Versailles, the Storming of the Bastille, and the Réveillon riots, is a key illustration of anarchy in action.

Democratic Republic

The people choose the representatives who hold all the talks in a republic. Also, the terms for representatives may or may not be fixed under a republic. A hybrid of democracy and a republic exists here. People can vote for specific decisions that have already been made in addition to electing representatives. Usually, the representatives have predetermined conditions. The purpose of this is to maintain the representatives’ integrity and commitment to serving the needs of the populace. A democratic republic frequently has an electoral college that is advised to vote in accordance with the preferences of the people it represents but still has the freedom to cast their ballots anyway they like. This stops democracy’s promotion of majority or “mob rule.”

Plutocracy

Here, the wealthy control the government. The wealthy are frequently businessmen and traders, or they are the owners of huge corporations. In a fantasy setting, however, the wealthy can be people who possess magic as opposed to those who do not. The exports and trades of the society also determine who the wealthy are. In some regions, the richest farmers might constitute the ruling elite. In a plutocracy, the wealthy unite to form their own private “clubs”, decide what is best for themselves and then carry out their decisions. It is crucial to remember that a group of people is conspiring together rather than one single ruler.

Totalitarian

The military controls a totalitarian state. Examples of totalitarian administrations in the real world include Nazi Germany, the Khan era in the Mongols, and early Rome. The political sphere is also under the direction of the army’s highest commander (though sometimes there can be three or so commanders who are on the same level and rule together; however, this most often results in internal war and one rising above the rest.

Communism/Socialism

In order to play a communist role, a different kind of government is required. Examples of different types of communism include totalitarian, tribal, plutocratic, and monarchical. Communism is fundamentally a system in which everyone shares everything, however, each has a somewhat different take on who is in charge. The private property does not exist, and everything is distributed equally among all people. The problem is that the commune’s leaders frequently become corrupt, and residents frequently put in less effort since they know they “will get paid regardless”. The middle class is often eliminated as a result. Smaller communities with receptive members, however, can succeed for a limited time.

Also Read: 10 Possible Reasons Why Your Story Is Not Impactful