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What Is the Monarchy For?

What Is the Monarchy For?

By Laura Clancy

  • Description

    Does the British monarchy still have a place in today’s society? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘exit’ cast light on institutional racism, Prince Andrew’s alleged sexual abuse 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.

  • Contents

    Introduction

    Part 1: Real Power?

    1. Stability and continuity?

    2. Ensuring democratic legitimacy?

    Part 2: Soft Power?

    3. The great unifier?

    4. The ultimate celebrities?

    5. Public servants?

    Part 3: Hidden Power

    6. Post-colonial?

    7. Custodians of the land?

    8. Twent-first century feminists?

    What next? Alternative futures

Product details

About the author

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.

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