Defending the faith(s)? : democracy and hereditary right in England political psychology

Abell, Jacqueline and Stevenson, Clifford (2011) Defending the faith(s)? : democracy and hereditary right in England political psychology. Political Psychology, 32 (3). pp. 485-504. ISSN 0162-895X

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Abstract

The persistence of traditional monarchies in modern societies, which are otherwise characterized by democratic and egalitarian values, remains a paradox in the social sciences. In part this is attributable to the lack of psychological investigation into the relationship between subject and sovereign, and in particular the ways in which the political and social values of the citizenry shape understandings of a hereditary monarch's right to represent a national community. Adopting the qualitative analysis methods of discursive psychology and grounded theory, the current study examines vernacular accounts of nationhood and monarchy in England in both formalized conversational interviews (n = 60) and impromptu street interviews (n = 56). Focusing on accounts of Prince Charles's recent proposal to change the role of the monarch, from “Defender of the (Christian) Faith” to “Defender of Faiths,” those in favor treated it as a positive step towards reflecting a diverse (religious) community, bringing the monarchy into line with current concerns of pluralism and upholding values of personal choice and individual rights. Participants who rejected the proposed change in title construed it as antithetical to these values in terms of reflecting personal stake and interest, an abuse of power, or an imposition on other faiths. In all accounts, the prime concern was in safeguarding the political and social values of the citizenry. In conclusion it is argued that the study of subjects' relationship to the monarch, its function and legitimacy, can provide an opportunity to examine how values can characterize a national community and facilitate national diversity.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Political Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3203
Subjects:
?? monarchynationhoodenglanddemocracyhereditaryclinical psychologysocial psychologypolitical science and international relationsphilosophysociology and political scienceexperimental and cognitive psychologybf psychology ??
ID Code:
51130
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
17 Nov 2011 16:51
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 12:28