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<p>While the British monarchy is hardly a central case for social scientists, it has attracted enough attention to constitute a significant niche. However, the existing accounts of the monarchy miss its central feature: powerlessness. This article argues that powerlessness is not mere weakness but rather a substantial and productive force in political culture. The article proceeds by examining the cultural construction of the contemporary British monarchy’s powerlessness at three sites: the institutional monarchy, the performed monarchy, and the popular monarchy. Powerlessness operates uniquely at each of these sites. This article argues that the construction of powerlessness at the institutional and performative levels produces a tension in political culture. The article concludes by arguing that a distinct, symbolic powerlessness generated in popular culture offers one ambiguous settlement to the cultural contradictions of monarchal powerlessness.</p>

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On the powerlessness of the contemporary British monarchy

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月30日

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  • Clayton Fordahl

摘要

While the British monarchy is hardly a central case for social scientists, it has attracted enough attention to constitute a significant niche. However, the existing accounts of the monarchy miss its central feature: powerlessness. This article argues that powerlessness is not mere weakness but rather a substantial and productive force in political culture. The article proceeds by examining the cultural construction of the contemporary British monarchy’s powerlessness at three sites: the institutional monarchy, the performed monarchy, and the popular monarchy. Powerlessness operates uniquely at each of these sites. This article argues that the construction of powerlessness at the institutional and performative levels produces a tension in political culture. The article concludes by arguing that a distinct, symbolic powerlessness generated in popular culture offers one ambiguous settlement to the cultural contradictions of monarchal powerlessness.