[HPforGrownups] Elections in the Wizarding World (or lack thereof)

[Becky Walkden]

No: HPFGUIDX 50633

Becky said :

What you said about selecting officials is probably true a lot of the time, but not, I think entirely.  Look at the group who governs Hogswarts.  They were able to expel Mr. Malfroy which is an inherently political task.  They also suspended Dumbledore for a day or two and I'm sure could have selected a successor although that process is not actually spelled out in the book.

Michelle:
Ok, this is where you need to define politics. I see those decisions as easy. They're about right or wrong. In fact, boards of governors of private schools in the UK ( I'm a Brit ) are quite autonomous. 

Again, Becky :
Also in the first book, Hagrid told Harry concerning the Ministry of Magic that "they wanted Dumbledore fer Minister o' course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job."  Well, first "they wanted" sounds like a "political" and not a magical appointment.  Also, no magical selection process would have stuck the ministry with an idiot like Fudge!

Michelle:
Hmm.....now we're really talking semantics. I think you mean that his appointment was not done by democracy - as in a vote of some sort ? I don't think that the WW is so very primitive that they would trust their leadership to pure magic, because they are not ( in some respects ) so very far removed from UK society. By this I mean that they judge by personality, not wizarding ability. 

Me (Becky)

Actually I agree with you Michelle.  I was referring to "political" appointments in the context of political verses magical.  Any appointment by any assembly can be construed as political (depending on one's semantics) but that is contrary to the previously stated (not by you) idea that selections are done by Magical means.  So it only referred to political verses magical means of selecting people.  And of course in these august bodies a WHOLE LOT of politicing goes on and there's nothing to indicate that the magical community would be any different.  I've seen no sign though of a democratic tradition here.

One point I do disagree with you though Michelle.  If these decisions were easy, what is a nincompoop like Cornelius Fudge doing as Minister of Magic?  Sounds like their decision wasn't all THAT easy to make!  Of course I remember Hermannie's comment in the first book (she read it I'm sure) about why Snap's trap was so clever.  Because it's pure logic and most wizzards have very little common sense!

Huggs Becky







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