The word theocracy refers to governments that are based on the belief that the God who governs the official religion is also responsible for governing aspects of political, economic and cultural life.
The one who makes the political and religious decisions is the same person. There is no separation between state and religion
In other words, theocracy (from the Greek, teo 'God' and cracia 'government') is a government in which the one who exercises power has under his command political and religious matters at the same time, usually making decisions that They concern both aspects and they run parallel to each other in terms of their ideology.
In this type of management, then, it is God who exercises his power and makes decisions, or failing that, God himself manifests his authority through ministers or representatives who act on his behalf. In this system there is no division or separation between the state and the religious institution.
Very widespread form of government during antiquity and the Middle Ages
Theocracy is perhaps one of the oldest forms of government that have existed on our planet since the beginning of time, if one takes into account that during Antiquity and the Middle Ages the religions of the world occupied a central place and that they were, in short, those that organized daily life, social practices, customs and ways of thinking in each society.
The pharaoh descended from the gods and this allowed him to exercise as political and religious authority
In this sense, civilizations such as Ancient Egypt or some of Mesopotamia and the Hebrews, among others, were characterized by having governments in which the main ruler was at the same time the highest religious representative, who made all the decisions and, in addition , the only one who represented the God in question in the earthly world. In many cases the king or pharaoh was considered a direct descendant of the gods, having then earned divine grace at birth to rule over his people. The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt were not only the most relevant political leaders but they were considered as the direct representation of the divinity on earth and assumed priestly functions.
Today, an obsolete form of government
Theocracies are political systems discussed today since at present democratic or parliamentary forms, which seek to open the representation and political participation of the entire society, are considered irrational and outdated forms of government.
In the theocracy there is no change of power, that is, no one can stand as a candidate for anything, there are no direct elections of representatives by popular vote.
The exceptions
However, it is normal to find that many states in the Middle East, some in Africa and even the Vatican, move from the theocratic idea that whoever governs them is directly linked to the god of their belief.
In today's democratic systems there is a clear separation of religion and state
On the other hand, in the democratic systems that predominate on the political map of our time, there is a clear differentiation between political power and religious power, that is, political authority goes one way while religious authority goes through another channel. There is a clear split in the political and religious spheres, neither has interference in the other.
For example, in those states in which the Christian religion is the official religion, there is no intervention of the Church in government decisions, even more so, it would be very frowned upon and it would be questioned if the Church intervenes in any political decision of the government. , even if it is not adequate.
Now, if it is accepted that the Church as a religious institution intervenes in some aspects and offers its opinion as a social actor of a community and as such it cannot and should not be censored and its conclusions accepted, but neither of them will be able to intervene in the decisions of the other in any way.
Now, although theocracy, as we pointed out, is not a form of government extended today as it was many years ago, there are exceptions, such as the Vatican, in which it continues to function as in its origins. The Pope, the highest authority of the Catholic Church, is also the Head of State of the Vatican.
