this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 13 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

I think authoritarian is the word you're looking for.

A fascist is authoritarian and nationalistic. A theocracy you're thinking of would be authoritarian and religious.

Anyway what is your ruling on the varican city? Does that qualify as a theocracy?

[–] guy@piefed.social 2 points 20 hours ago

Ok so this was actually an interesting question and wikipedia calls it an theocratic elective absolute monarchy. Sadly Freedom house don't have a analys for it.

And if it is an absolute monarchy, that's authoritarian.

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 22 hours ago (2 children)
[–] zxqwas@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

It's your question so you get to decide. The pope is elected from the high ranking catholic priests. So very much a theocracy in that sense. And it seems largely based on merit.

However it's a micro nation that could function basically the same if they rented the place instead of being sovregin.

[–] guy@piefed.social 3 points 20 hours ago

It is. The pope is gods representative on Earth and you can't be pope without being a catholic. That's a theocracy if I've ever seen one.

[–] disregardable@lemmy.zip 9 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

behind the bastards did a 4 part series on mohammad bin salman. he is the son of his father's THIRD wife, and apparently by birth his father was the 25th son of the king. as in, his father absolutely never should've gotten the throne, and then he should've never gotten the throne. however, apparently saudi arabia has a royal culture of people just being paid massive amounts in oil money irrespective of how productive they are, so bin salman's dad got more power over his siblings by actually doing his job. then son of the 3rd wife over here did the same thing.

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

So capitalism? Ill tell you one thing. Trump didnt come to power by being good at buisness.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Trump didnt come to power by being good at buisness.

He came to power by being good for business, or more specifically, good for billionaire backed businesses...

[–] porcoesphino@mander.xyz 3 points 20 hours ago

come to power

I think you're talking about recent history and there was a lot before he got to that point where he probably wasn't as useful to billionaires

[–] Pudutr0n@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Social climbing is also possible in fascism.

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 23 hours ago

I just call that subjugation

[–] Theprogressivist@lemmy.world 0 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

That's just bootlicking at that point.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Just like social climbing in any other situation.

[–] guy@piefed.social 2 points 20 hours ago

Simplification, but yes..

[–] FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Is social climbing not possible in fascism?

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, but not through religion.

[–] FinjaminPoach@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Hmm what if it was a fascist theocracy (i suppose there's no good real-world example where the clergy is the only route for social climbing)

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 3 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

Theocracy is similar to fascism, in that it's often authoritarian but the difference is literally whether they are inspired through religious fervor, or through national pride and patriotic superiority.

Just imagine if Scientology was running an entire country.

[–] Amro@piefed.social 1 points 15 hours ago

Really no one mentions the Holy Roman Empire? Or the ancient Egyptians? In a theocracy social climbing is possible. In any hierarchy politics matter.