What do we know about the political structures in azeroth? I only play alliance so can’t speak for the horde.
Night Elves seem to live under a theocracy with a strong military presence as well
Stormwind and Gilneas are monarchies, of course, but it is unclear if they are absolute, if there is a parliament or legislative branch of some kind.
Draenei I think also go on the theocracy route with a prophet leader
Gnomes Irrc used to pick the high tinker by merit but now Gelbin is king? So another absolute monarch?
Void elves barely seem organized under Umbric.
Kul Tiras has a Grand Admiral. Unsure what that translates to. Maybe a military regime, with the leader of the navy in charge of the executive?
Dwarves have a council now but system-wise (and even more so now with Dagran), they operate under yet another monarchy with Magni being the previous head of state.
I have no idea what political system the pandaren have.
Earthen also, unsure how their council operates.
Am I missing something? What about the horde?
Also why is the alliance fixated with monarchies and theocracies
A theocracy with Tyrande as the High Priestess, but also a duarchy since she and Malfurion were co-rulers of the night elven people. Currently they’re led by Shandris who as the General of the Sentinels might classify as the leader of a military junta.
Absolute, but Varian is the one who turned Stormwind into an absolute monarchy as he defanged the House of Nobles and removed much of their power.
Pretty much.
Semi-democratic where the High Tinker is elected for life based on the merits of his engineering prowess. The High Tinker doesn’t hold much official power, but derives it entirely from the willingness of gnomes to follow him. The mechagnomes were an absolute monarchy, and having elected Gelbin as their king, he was chosen as king of the unified gnomish race. He’d already been styling himself as King of Gnomes for years anyway.
He’s their representative, that’s about it. They are a group of people, not a nation.
Part military regime, mostly aristocratic oligarchy.
The council is a regency, the Dark Irons are a monarchy, the Bronzebeards are a monarchy, the Wildhammers are probably a monarchy given that their ruler is styled as High Thane and seems to be the equal of the Dark Iron Emperor and Bronzebeard High King.
Communes, probably.
Oligarchy.
Well, the Horde is technically just as fixated with monarchies as the Alliance is. The tauren tribes, orc clans and troll tribes / empire can be seen as a form of tribal monarchies, especially in the case of the tauren tribes whose tribal rule is hereditary and the Zandalari Empire. The Forsaken were previously a monarchy ruled by the Banshee Queen, but their current council is imo best described as an oligarchy, Quel’Thalas is a kingdom ruled by a regent, so that is another form of monarchy too. Suramar is another form of monarchy, albeit with a ruler not styled by a traditional aristocratic title.
The goblins are autocratic oligarchs of different flavours and the vulpera live in tribal caravans, so they might be comparable to communes.
The Horde as a whole when led by a Warchief was a military dictatorship and the modern orcs without their clan system are also led by a ruler with dictatorial power. The Horde’s council is another oligarchy.
I don’t think we know very much about any government beyond its leader, tbh.
Tauren have an elective monarchy in theory, with any of the tribes’ leaders eligible to lead the overall confederacy, but given that the last Chieftain’s son was fast-tracked to replace him, it might be a hereditary monarchy in practice.
Individual Orc clans seem to be hereditary monarchies for the most part, but the over-arching leadership position seems to be a straightforward dictatorial system where each leader hand-picks their successor.
The Zandalari have a straightforward hereditary monarchy with an extensive bureaucracy under it, tinged with theocracy. The pact between the monarch and the top Loa is critical to their authority.
The Darkspear don’t, but it’s not clear what criteria Rokhan had to meet to be in charge. The fact that Vol’jin picked Sylvanas to lead the Horde on the advice of Loa suggests that maybe that’s how they pick their leaders.
Goblin cartels are framed as companies, so we might be able to infer something from that, but we’re never told precisely how one gets to the top. Presumably it involves deal-making and back-stabbing.
The Forsaken were formed under a dictator - Sylvanas probably didn’t have much of a succession plan - but otherwise the government at least roughly resembled Lordaeron’s monarchy. She’s now been replaced with a council of influential people. (Plus Calia.)
The Blood Elves had a hereditary monarchy. Now they have a dictatorial regency. It’s not at all clear who the leader would be if Lor’themar fell. Beyond that, the Magisters seem to have a least some role in governance, though it’s not clear how much. It’s possible that Lor’themar’s marriage to Thalyssra might result in some kind of merge between the two states, but that’s far from guaranteed.
The Pandaren are interesting. On Pandaria, they seem to be hyper-decentralized, with each community being a self-governing entity that only unites in matters of defense. The Shado-pan are in charge of coordinating this unity (Almost exclusively during Mantid Swarms, but occasionally other under circumstances) but they don’t exert any authority outside of this narrow mandate.
Pandaren seem to live like communist in the most literal version of the term as they all live in communes and live to provide for the common good for all, and while there is personal property they share the lands in common and don’t have an oligarchy or centralized state at all. They live happy, rule themselves with little desire to undermine their neighbors and truly live for the collective good of all people be they pandaren, jinyu or hozen. Seems like the most idealistic society on Azeroth.
No kings, no emperors, no oligarchy or capitalist state. No empire that actually acts like an empire, its just a collection of societies that live in communes and share the lands in common with each other for the public good.
I actually did think about invoking the word “commune” when describing the Pandaren, but decided against it. It’s true that we don’t see any evidence of “big bad capitalism” but there are clearly prominent landowning families who live very comfortably off of their owned capital and hire employees to work for them. The bones of their economy are capitalistic, albeit tempered by the general lack of ambition that pervades Pandaren culture.
I maintain there should be at least one communist-inspired state in WoW. Of course most westerners know nothing about it except “Stalin killed 100 gorillion.” I don’t trust Blizzard to handle it well.
Alliance Stormwind: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: House of Nobles | > Elected Councils in the fiefdoms Ironforge: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: Council of three Hammers |Senate of Ironforge Night Elves: Theocracy (Shandris? lol)
→ Government: Sisterhood of Elune. Gnomes: Monarchy (before: Anarchy / Technocracy)
→ Government: who knows Exodar: Theocracy
→ Government: Triumvirat of the Hand (of Argus) Gilneas: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: Nobles of Gilneas Kul Tiras: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: Nobles of Kul Tiras Dark Irons: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: Shadowforge Senate
The terms for different types of monarchy are defined by our real world. However, as WoW sometimes mixes characteristics and elements wildly, it is not really possible to categorise warcraft kingdoms with rl-terms.
For example, the Crown appears to wield the power in Stormwind (absolute), yet the House of Nobles appears to have important ruling positions and the ability to limit the King’s power at the same time. (constitutional/aristocratic, like the historic british house of lords). Westfall and Duskwood are known as fiefs. (feudalism) Yet, they vote for their local leaders (democracy).
Horde Orgrimmar: Oligarchy (before: tribal chiefdom)
→ Government: Chiefs of the Orc Clans Undercity: Oligarchy (before: Autocracy)
→ Government: Desolated Council Thunderbluff: Chiefdom
→ Government: Chiefs of the Tauren Tribes Darkspear: Chiefdom
→ Government: no Silvermoon: Regency (it’s just a monarchy but without a king)
→ Government: Magisters, Farstriders, (Blood Knights?) Bilgewater Cartel: Capitalism? A Trade Prince seems to “own” everything, except their workers.
→ Government: Moguls and Barons Suramar: Autocracy, some say Oligarchy?
→ Government: Nobles of Suramar Zandalari: Hereditary monarchy
→ Government: Zanchuli Council Thundertotem: Chiefdom
→ Government: Chiefs of the High Mountain Tauren Tribes
I don’t think the Army of Light, Telogrus, the Mag’har, the Vulpera, the Tushui, or the Houjin Pandaren can be classified as states with a government.
Quel’Thalas is technically a military dictatorship, though it didn’t arrive there in the usual way. Prior to the Third War it was a monarchy headed by the Sunstrider family, along with some characteristics of an oligarchy in the form of the Convocation. The Scourge wiped out the entire Convocation and as far as we know it has not been reassembled since.
Lor’themar was the second-in-command of the Farstriders and in the aftermath of the invasion rallied the survivors as the highest ranking leader present, since Kael’thas was out of the country at the time. That led to Kael making him regent and leaving him in charge while Kael left for Outland. Halduron, Lor’themar’s best friend, was promoted to Ranger-General and continued working as one of Lor’themar’s closest allies and confidants, while Rommath became Grand Magister and stayed in Silvermoon as one of Kael’s closest advisors and acting as his voice. Rommath wasn’t kept informed of what Kael’thas was up to in Outland, though, and when Kael’thas betrayed Silvermoon he was shocked and sided with the rebellion against him.
We now have the informal triumvirate of a regent who overthrew his monarch but refuses to formally take the throne, the regent’s best friend, and one of the overthrown monarch’s best friends, all of whom refer to Quel’Thalas as a “kingdom” while also honoring Kael’s statement that Anasterian was the last king of Quel’Thalas. Liadrin is clearly valued for her input, but she’s not part of their group. Comments by Lor’themar and Thalyssra would indicate that Halduron and Rommath take care of everything whenever Lor’themar’s away. We don’t know what the rules are for succession if something happens to Lor’themar, but considering how he got the job in the first place and that two-thirds of the triumvirate are rangers, I suspect that Halduron would be expected to step up and that his second-in-command would be promoted to Ranger-General, but the structure of the triumvirate wouldn’t necessarily hold. Lor’themar’s marriage to Thalyssra definitely complicates things, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we see a reorganization of Quel’Thalas’ governing structure in Midnight.
Suramar is interesting, as it operated as a monarchy under Elisande, but her council of advisors were elected by the noble houses. Thalyssra was one of her advisors, and we don’t know if she’s kept the structure of the the elected council in place, thought I don’t believe there’s any evidence to suggest she hasn’t.
Mostly I’m just bemused that Thalyssra never ranked up to Grand Magistrix after seizing power. The political conundrum that muddles Silvermoon’s succession (Kael’s “no more kings” decree, etc.) wasn’t in play, so there’s really no reason why she didn’t claim the title and name Valtrois or whoever First Arcanist. That’s an established role beneath the head of state; Elisande created a new one after declaring Thalyssra attainted.
I would assume that structure could hold, but its makeup would shift. I wouldn’t say that Halduron, or whoever the Ranger General would later be, is guaranteed the position of Regent Lord or equivalent however. Instead it would probably be decided among those in that triumvirate and/or other influential parts of society. Liadrin or any Matriarch/Patriarch of the Blood Knights would probably have a say, The Reliquary, Magisters, and Farstriders, while inventing whatever the Spell Breaker and Priest orders may be.
Its probably pretty safe to assume Thalyssra doesn’t have, or wouldn’t have, any major interest in suddenly becoming regent, queen, or anything of an entirely different people after only knowing them for less than 10 years as of now despite similarities other than to maybe be a tie breaking vote to determine this new system.
I think the best description would be democratic monarchy, perhaps some form of constitutional monarchy.
The High Tinker does have powers similar to a typical monarchy. But he comes to power by what amounts to election of the people, and he only remains in power by their consent.
It is not entirely different that RL history. The aristocracy/nobility in many monarchies held a lot of power. The kings technically had complete authority. But, in practice they needed the nobility on their side to actually govern.
I would call it a capitalist oligarchy. Power is centered around wealth, and the power is near complete.
The only real development was in the long out of print and out of canon Tabletop RPG books and in the Defias story for Stormwind.
The Night Elves don’t really have a system. They have had two very long periods with rule by a single person. The transition between those two women was essentially a civil war combined with a demonic invasion.
Their military was essentially two branches led by different people until Shandris stood up and started taking control of of both.
None of the monarchies in either Alliance were absolute, both had Councils of Nobles that limited their actions.
As for the rest, Blizzard only fills out the details WHEN THEY MATTER IN GAME.
It’s like the Old West Town created by the Melkots in Star Trek’s “Spectre of the Gun” minimal building facades because that was all that was needed to set the stage for the execution of Kirk and his party. Or it could be because it was pulled from fragments in Kirk’s mind.
The Horde is even less developed. Mainly just what has been built up in game and in novels.
Neither are they… their whole society just got a rejuvenation and a restart, they’re pretty much winging it, as the Stormriders say.
In traditional history the two have gone hand in hand. Up until the whole Abrahamic religion thing, Kings and Emperors were worshipped as literal dieties. Post Roman Empire, European Kings would claim that their authority derived from being Christ’s Vassal, and the churches had the role of ceritifying their authority. (Sometimes under sword point.) Some like Charlgemane tried to evade this, but he was caught by the current Pope who crowned him on the spot as the new Holy Roman Emperor, laying obligation on him… but we degress.
The Alliance elves and humans are modeled after European Royalty. The Dwarves and Gnomes mostly from bad Scottish jokes, and Dragonlance memes respectively.
We have a rough idea of the overall leadership of each faction, but we have almost no idea of what the day-to-day government is for the factions. Just based on what little we have seen territories have governors or overseers who take care the basics of any functioning government. Granted most of the places we see in-game are in a state of conflict at best and/or outright warfare at worst so that may not be the norm.
High Tinker is a title granted to the elected leader of the gnomes, chosen by common consent, based on the merits of their work. Despite this, it does not hold any legal authority to compel gnomes to listen to the High Tinker; meaning it serves as a figurehead and representative chosen to speak for the gnomes by virtue of respect. After the departure of King Mechagon four hundred years ago, gnomes moved away from monarchy, choosing instead to elect one of their own to the office of High Tinker. [S]
Apparently, Geblin just called himself King of Gnomes because it sounded cool. However, the Gnomes and Mechagnomes actually crowned him King (a real one, not just high tinker) with BFA. The only question is whether this means the hereditary monarchy will be restored (as it was under King Mechagon) or if another election will be held following Geblin’s death.
I’ve heard the term “aristocratic monarchy” used in this context, which tries to describe exactly that (as it differs from the modern understanding of an absolute monarchy). But it is probably just the neologism of some authors and not established at all.
Could be. Or perhaps a Plutocracy?
I’m not sure how to classify the trade prince.
Perhaps Thalyssra felt it would be strange for her to take up Elisande’s title after leading the rebellion against her? Even Elisande keeping “Grand Magistrix” is odd; it’s just another form of “Grand Magister” and seems to be the title she held while governing Suramar as part of Azshara’s empire, and she never changed it to reflect that she was effectively a monarch after the city broke away from Azshara’s rule. Maybe refusing to take up the title of the previous monarch because it feels weird is just how elves work? Is all of elvenkind that traumatized by Azshara that they’re skittish of royal titles?
I don’t disagree, necessarily, but the triumvirate doesn’t seem to be a formal government structure, as Lor’themar is still ultimately the sole head of state and can overrule the other two on most things if he so pleases; he just generally chooses not to. Rommath had more power when Kael’thas was still alive and he technically spoke with Kael’s authority, so he could act independent of Lor’themar, but he lost that when Kael betrayed Silvermoon. I believe Lor’themar can technically overrule Halduron on matters of the Farstriders, but since they’re best friends Halduron has no fear of putting his foot down and letting Lor’themar know if he strongly disagrees about something, and Lor’themar is generally inclined to compromise or yield rather than try to force his view. If Halduron and Lor’themar weren’t already such close friends, I don’t think the Ranger-General would have the same position of power as one of the regent’s closest advisors, and if Rommath hadn’t initially been acting as a second Kael’thas surrogate, I don’t think the Grand Magister would automatically be such a close advisor either. Ultimately, the fact that Lor’themar takes advice and shares any responsibilities with others seems to be entirely his own choice, originally born out of the aftermath of Kael’thas’ death, though it’s a very smart thing to do and is generally good for Quel’Thalas.
I think Thalyssra would wisely limit herself to giving advice, which would likely be welcomed considering Rommath, Halduron, and Liadrin all have plenty of respect for her.
This reminds me: something that I’ve always found interesting and that WoW hasn’t really ever explored in depth is that there were a number of Lordaeron nobles who joined the Cult of the Damned early on, which would mean they were committing treason against Terenas. How many of the nobles that Terenas had to rely on to help govern his massive kingdom contributed to rotting it from the inside out? How many of the nobles advising Terenas and attending his councils were secretly plotting against him, all the while pretending that they had no idea what was causing the strange sickness that was spreading across the land? How many of them were in the throne room when Medivh gave his warning?
Part of me thinks that Tyrandes words play a part in this too. I can see Thalyssra refusing to take up the title of “grand Magistrix” as a way to show to Tyrande that she is different from Azshara and Elisande. Like how letting the nightwell die was.