Nomocracy
Encyclopedia
A nomocracy is a government which is ruled by law. That is, a government under the sovereignty of rational laws and civic right as opposed to one under theocratic
systems of government . In a nomocracy, ultimate and final authority (sovereignty
) exists in the law.
Other commentators dispute this interpretation of nomocracy, making its opposite an autocracy
. From this perspective, whether a theocracy is or is not a nomocracy depends on the system of belief behind it. Firstly, Hans von Aiberg stated "Mehdist Nomokrasi (Mightyist Nomocracy)" in his book Arz'dan Arş'a Evrenin Sırları ve Sınırları, in 80's. Secondly, according to Seyyed Hossein Nasr
in The Heart of Islam (2002), "the Islamic ideal is that of a nomocracy, that is, the rule of Divine Law" (148). From another perspective, the Divine Law makes Allah
the sovereign
, making it a kind of divine autocracy
.
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
systems of government . In a nomocracy, ultimate and final authority (sovereignty
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
) exists in the law.
Other commentators dispute this interpretation of nomocracy, making its opposite an autocracy
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
. From this perspective, whether a theocracy is or is not a nomocracy depends on the system of belief behind it. Firstly, Hans von Aiberg stated "Mehdist Nomokrasi (Mightyist Nomocracy)" in his book Arz'dan Arş'a Evrenin Sırları ve Sınırları, in 80's. Secondly, according to Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is an Iranian University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University, and a prominent Islamic philosopher...
in The Heart of Islam (2002), "the Islamic ideal is that of a nomocracy, that is, the rule of Divine Law" (148). From another perspective, the Divine Law makes Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
the sovereign
Sovereign
A sovereign is the supreme lawmaking authority within its jurisdiction.Sovereign may also refer to:*Monarch, the sovereign of a monarchy*Sovereign Bank, banking institution in the United States*Sovereign...
, making it a kind of divine autocracy
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
.