The Proper Role of a Ruler and the Government

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Over the centuries, many political philosophers, historians, and thinkers have ventured to identify the ideal form of government: a theory which truly takes into account human nature as a whole and applies it accordingly. Human nature, when looked at holistically, is essentially good - men will not annihilate each other if left without a ruler, but motivation, protection, and some degree of rights must be accommodated in order to allow a state to thrive to its greatest capacity. Thus a ruler should be judged by his ability to protect the people and secure their rights, and he should come to power by the collective consent of the people. The perfect government is one in which the ruler has only the power which allows him to aid the people and the state, protect their rights, and ensure their protection. Society and the sovereign are reciprocally obliged towards each other, and they may only be content as long as both factions are appeased.

A ruler should have enough power at his disposal so that he may be able to secure the people’s properties, rights, and ensure their protection, yet his power must be limited so that he may not use it arbitrarily and against the good and will of the people. Moreover, the legitimacy and authority of a ruler should come from his ability to govern society justly and protect the people’s properties and rights. This is exemplified by John Locke’s Two Treatises on Civil Government, in which he states, “The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property; and the [reason] they choose and authorize a legislature is that there may be laws made [...] as guards [...] to the properties of all, to limit the power [...] of every [...] member of the society.” If the ruler is unable or...

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...is powers must be restricted so that he may not use them arbitrarily and against the good of the people. A society and the ruler share responsibilities that depend inversely upon each other, and only when the ruler and his subjects are in agreement may the state prosper. The world today functions because of the fact that rulers have recognized that human nature does not require an absolute rule; the natural conduct of society does not necessitate a despot. Whenever this mutual agreement of rule is broken, the people will, as history has shown us, rebel. Countless examples of this may be found in the past, and even present: the Arab Spring, the French Revolution, the Revolutionary War, etc. The only way to ensure a just, efficient, and equal society is by instituting a form of government that, without becoming a totalitarian state, respects and promotes those values.

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