New Statesman on defunct monarchies

Endorsement definitely not implied. An irritatingly snarky, irreverent article (not surprising from this source, which can't even spell "Prince Philip" correctly) that I nevertheless can't ignore. These claimants and many more are exactly what the world needs. It's not pleasant to be continually reminded of how much contempt fashionable opinion has for my most deeply felt beliefs. If I occasionally raise eyebrows by straying into other issues, it's partly because I can't stand it that these days monarchism is more likely to be ridiculed than denounced.

Hope for Libya?

Having just criticized the Washington Post, I suppose I must praise the New York Times for publishing this at all, though they can't resist quoting someone who thinks monarchists are "living in cloud cuckoo land," which I guess is a revealing indication of what much of the modern world thinks of people like me. Long live the Kingdom of Libya!

Restoration in Libya?

Could Libya be the first country to return to sanity and restore its monarchy in the 21st century? Pray for a domino effect! (And someone needs to tell that high school student that monarchy does not mean that "one person governs a whole country alone.") It was Kadhafi who overthrew the monarchy in 1969, so if you hate Kadhafi, you should be for the monarchy. Long live the Senussi dynasty and the Kingdom of Libya!

British MP supports Libyan restoration

My new favourite British MP, Daniel Kawczynski, has advocated that Libya hold a referendum on restoring the monarchy, suggesting quite properly that another politician is hardly what Libya needs right now. Only the Sanussi dynasty, steeped in history, can plausibly bring Libyans together and constitute a thorough repudiation of the Gaddafi regime. It is very rare for politicians even in existing monarchies to advocate the restoration of others; hopefully Mr Kawczynski's wise words will be heeded!

A Willing King for Libya?

Prince Mohammed el Senussi, great-nephew of King Idris I, is ready to serve as King of Libya if its people want him. Leaders of the rebels, typically reluctant to share any power or glory, deny that he and the royal family are to have a constitutional role in post-Gaddafi Libya, but other Libyans surely back a return of the King. Hopefully their rightful aspirations for constitutional monarchy will not be thwarted by republican scheming inside and outside Libya as has happened in far too many other countries on the brink of restoration. Monarchists can oppose making the Crown dependent on electoral consent without violating our own principles, since we do not claim "majority rule" as the basis of all political legitimacy (whether it is prudent to do so today is another matter), but if democrats are true to theirs, they must allow a free vote on the restoration of the monarchy and respect the result whatever it is. Long live the Kingdom of Libya!

Encouraging Signs?

Restorationist monarchists don't often have cause for optimism (especially when even generally popular and stable existing monarchies like Sweden's are currently having a rough time). Yet recent articles report growing support for restoration of monarchies in both Serbia and Libya. Could one or both of these nations enjoy the Return of the King in the not too distant future? Let's hope so; a restoration anywhere in the second decade of the 21st century would do wonders for the monarchist cause worldwide, proving that monarchy does not belong only to the past but also to the future, and even providing cause for hope that this century might be an improvement upon its horrid predecessor.

Prospects for Restoration in Libya?

With the 42-year rule of Colonel Gaddafi (who overthrew King Idris in 1969) hopefully nearing its end, nothing is out of the question for Libya, not even the restoration of the monarchy. Protesters in Stockholm even raised the old monarchical flag at the Libyan embassy. The royal family are not silent: Prince Idris al Senussi talks to CNN about the turmoil in his country; Crown Prince Muhammad al Senussi calls for the removal of Gadaffi. Let's hope that in at least one Middle Eastern country the unrest of 2011 may have a positive result.