What is a theocracy?

Answer 1

A Theocracy is a government whose right to rule is derived from Religious Authority.

Direct Theocracy: A direct theocracy is a country that is directly ruled by either (1) a person who claims to be a god or (2) a person who claims to be able to determine the will of the gods. In this case, the religious authority is himself writing the laws of the country and enforcing them. A version of type one would be ancient Egypt, where the Pharaoh was considered to be a god, and who ruled based on this religious right. A version of type two would be the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is a theocracy because the Ayatollahs are all clergy of the Twelver Shiite Islam religion. Although Iran has an elected parliament, who can run in the elections (and often the results) are controlled by the non-elected Supreme Council of Ayatollahs.

Indirect Theocracy: An indirect theocracy is a country where direct power is in the hands of a non-religious authority, but incredibly amounts of power to determine policy come from (1) a person who claims to be a god or (2) a person who claims to be able to determine the will of the gods. The difference here is that the religious authorities are not actually ones writing the government's laws, but instead have strong influence on how they are to be determined. Saudi Arabia is considered an indirect theocracy, because it is actually absolute monarchy where the Saudi King does not have religious authority, but the Wahhabi Councils, which do have religious authority, have strong influence with the Saudi King and in public policy.

Answer 2

Theocracy is a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler, it is also formed by a small group of people.