• What Is the Monarchy For?
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What Is the Monarchy For?

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Does the British monarchy still have a place in today’s society? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘exit’ cast light on institutional racism, multiple allegations around Prince Andrew highlighted troubling attitudes to gender and power, while...
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  • April 29, 2025
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Does the British monarchy still have a place in today’s society? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘exit’ cast light on institutional racism, multiple allegations around Prince Andrew highlighted troubling attitudes to gender and power, while the abolition of monarchy in Barbados accentuated its relationship to colonialism.

But what is the monarchy actually for? Does it benefit the UK, or cause more harm than good? The death of Queen Elizabeth II and the dawn of the Carolean age makes these questions more pertinent than ever.

Breaking longstanding myths around the monarchy, Clancy demystifies and evaluates the monarchy, showing why republicanism is nothing to be scared of.

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Price: $13.95
Pages: 192
Publisher: Bristol University Press
Imprint: Bristol University Press
Series: What Is It For?
Publication Date: April 29, 2025
ISBN: 9781529234626
Format: Paperback
BISACs: SOCIAL SCIENCE / Social Classes & Economic Disparity, Political structures / systems: democracy, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Nationalism & Patriotism, Society and culture: general, Social groups, communities and identities, Corruption in politics, government and society, Social discrimination and social justice
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“This book makes a forensic and salutary case for totally rethinking the British monarchy, an institution that enshrines indefensible inequalities.” Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge

"A probing and succinct analysis of monarchical power and its potential alternatives in an era of rising global inequalities." Brooke Newman, Virginia Commonwealth University

“A brilliant analysis of Britain’s most enduringly reactionary institution, by one of its foremost critics.” Jeremy Gilbert, author of Twenty-First Century Socialism and Hegemony Now



"What is the Monarchy For? provides a powerful dissection of the institution, until the answer becomes clear: nothing good. A must-read." Graham Smith, CEO, Republic
Laura Clancy is a lecturer in media in the sociology department, Lancaster University. Her research focuses on issues of inequality, particularly 'the elites' and the monarchy. She is the author of “Running the Family Firm: How the monarchy manages its image and our money” (Manchester University Press, 2021) and is a frequent media commentator on the royals.

Introduction

Part I: Real Power?

1. Stability and Continuity?

2. Ensuring Democratic Legitimacy?

Part II: Soft Power?

3. The Great Unifier?

4. The Ultimate Celebrities?

5. Public Servants?

Part III: Hidden Power

6. Post-colonial?

7. Custodians of the Land?

8. Twenty-first Century Feminists?

Part IV: What Next?

Conclusion