The Reform Coalition ideologies

The many members of the Reform Coalition espouse a dazzling variety of (often incompatible) ideologies. Some of the most common schools of thought are outlined here.

Constitutional monarchists

“The Crown may reign, but they should not rule.”

Constitutional monarchists believe that the Crown of Arginet should play a part in the nation’s future, but that their power must be limited. Broadly speaking they hold that laws should come from the people - perhaps decided by an elected parliament - and that the Crown should be bound by those laws.

As the most conservative Reformist school, they enjoy fairly good relations with the Armies, but the nobility still consider them a threat. Their strongest base of support comes from wealthy commoners and the peasantry.

Republicans

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Many Reformists believe that Arginet should become a republic, perhaps along the lines of Bravellir. They believe that constitutional monarchy is not enough - rather, that the Crown should be abolished and replaced with an elected council and head of state.

Although this school has some supporters within the Armies the idea of overthrowing the Crown is still considered deeply suspect. Nonetheless, a significant minority of town-dwellers have republican sympathies.

Democrats

“One person, one vote.”

The democrats are the most important offshoot of the republican school. They believe that representative politics are little better than the current system, and that instead the entire population should vote on matters of importance. There is a great deal of argument over how this should be done but many point to the Rite of Sending as a possible solution.

Their ideology draws most of its support from the towns and cities and is particularly popular among magicians and academics. However, its adherents are stereotyped as eccentric, and its anti-monarchist implications give it a poor reputation.

Minarchists

“A society without law is intolerable.”

Bridging the gap between the constitutional monarchists and anarchists are minarchists, sometimes known as anarcho-monarchists - a small school who maintain that the Crown alone is necessary for the kingdom’s well-being, and that their sole purpose should be to protect the liberty of the people.

Minarchism appeals to a certain kind of rural commoner, and the less strict varieties - those that allow for the existence of a military - are at least tolerated by the Armies.

Anarchists

“The most improper job of any person is bossing other people.”

Viewed as the most hardline Reformist philosophy, anarchism rejects all forms of hierarchy and calls for the total abolition of the Kingdom. There are many strands of thought within the movement and it is in a constant state of flux.

Anarchists are viewed as dangerous traitors by the nobles, and the Armies have very little regard for them either. On the other hand its supporters, mostly disaffected peasants and poor city-dwellers, have a well-deserved reputation for being highly motivated and often ruthless.

Part of a series about the Reform Coalition.

Ideologies - Internal matters - Attitudes to others - Religion and spirituality - Costume - Archetypes

See also: Arginet - Factions - The Noble Houses - The Royal Armies