Is the United Kingdom really a monarchy? – an introduction to legal and doctrinal considerations

Abstract

The contemporary political science divides forms of state into a republic and a monarchy. Due to the recurring postulates of transforming United Kingdom into a republic, it is worth taking a closer look at the true form of the British state. The answer to the question about the criterion distinguishing the monarchical form from the republican one and the qualification of Great Britain to one of these categories is not as simple as it might seem. The aim of the article is to find this criterion, as well as to indicate the actual political form of the British state. The considerations are based on an analysis of the views of ancient philosophers, historical thinkers and modern scientists in the field of defining monarchy and republic. The author also takes into account the history of political systems and the views of modern British republicans. The work is divided into parts concerning the definition of a monarchy and a republic, the classical concept of state systems and the doctrines of historical thinkers, with particular emphasis on the thought of the English Revolution. The classical understanding of the idea of ​​monarchy and republic has faded away over the centuries, however, in the discussion on the potential transformation of the British monarchy into a republic, it is worth returning to ancient, Enlightenment and revolutionary thought. A monarchy and a republic differ in more than just the type of head of state, and in fact they have many elements in common.