Absolute Monarchies in the Modern World

A few states remain absolute or near-absolute monarchies, where the monarch holds executive, legislative and often judicial authority. Saudi Arabia is governed under a Basic Law issued by royal decree in 1992; the king rules, advised by an appointed Consultative (Shura) Council, and succession runs within the Al Saud family. Oman, Brunei and Eswatini also concentrate power in the monarch, and Vatican City is an elective absolute monarchy headed by the pope.

Other Arab monarchies, such as Jordan, Bahrain and Morocco, combine powerful monarchs with elected parliaments of varying strength. Rulers in these states draw legitimacy from tradition, religion, family networks and, in oil-rich states, the ability to distribute wealth. Notably, none of the eight Arab monarchies was overthrown during the 2011 Arab uprisings, while several republics' leaders fell, a pattern scholars explain by wealth, family-based elites and outside support, as well as traditional legitimacy.