Shouldn’t that make us question the value of republicanism, though? If republics aren’t inherently any more egalitarian than monarchies of similar culture, history, and social systems in terms of the lived experiences of citizens. It’s all well and good to say everyone is equal, but plenty of republics say everyone is equal without doing much to make it reality.
If monarchies are irrelevant to equality, then they need to be judged on their own merit. I personally think the monarchy should be abolished on principle. It feels wrong in a modern democracy to have people who are born with different rights(both more and less) than the common person.
Even if it is mosly minor issues it leaves a bad example. For one, the current king of Norway was caught driving over the speed limit while younger. He could not be punished because the constitution did not allow it. Sure it is a mknor thing and no one got hurt, but it seems very wrong that some people are literally above the law. And there have been many worse scandals like this.
I also have a view mostly based on the principle. But I’m shocked over the Marius case - how protected he and his criminality has been. Many protective hands.
Marius mother and her friendship with Epstein and the Durek/Martha scandals is unbelievable.
The king is the nations grandfather, first mentioned by himself, later the press and the Norwegians- also extremely strange.
And what about Mettes to other kids? Why are they traveling? Not studying or working as other young people. Only Ingrid has done the military service.
Strange that people accept this. I mean, look to the neighbor countries Finland and Iceland, it works much better there. The democracy in Norway will continue with an elected head of state
Iceland, as opposed to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, has rarely had a left-wing government, and as an Icelander I would never say we have great social mobility - although that is somewhat masked by how few we are, and how there isn't a traditional upper class going back hundreds of years. In the 20th century there was more of the American social mobility - the country was getting richer, and as a consequence there were opportunities to be had.
What parts of the Nordic model we do have are lifted straight from the Nordic countries, but they don't function as well as they do in the Nordic countries, because economically we're way too American, thanks to our long history of right-wing governance.
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u/Mynteblomst May 20 '25
The social mobility will continue without monarchy. Look to Finland and Iceland