On Ideocratic Polities and Projects. Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

This article approaches the role of ideocratic projects, focusing oncosmocratic and constitutional domination, while looking at the conceptof ideocracy in premodern and especially modern contexts. The article alsoargues for the conceptual usefulness of the term ideocracy in analysingcertain regime types, and, especially when considering totalist dimensions,enabling researchers to go beyond traditional left-right or religious-seculardivides. Whereas cosmocratic domination represented a fundamental traitin premodern ideocracies, modern ideocratic projects have tended to moveto a constitutionalist form of domination. In doing so, ideocracies typicallystay true to their doctrinal core, even as they may end up pursuing a hybridapproach.