The books focus almost exclusively on Britain, and while it is nice to have the action set in jolly old England, I often consider the Wizarding world at large, especially after GoF.

While canon has not revealed a lot of detail about the magical government of Britain, we are given some details. Some obscure form of no-confidence vote led to Fudge's impeachment, and an election led to Rufus Scrimgeour. Although Molly is probably not very politically savvy, she had curious little to say about how Rufus got the top job.

Still, I envision magical Britain as a form of democracy/oligarchy. Surely the entire world does not copy Britain's form of government. Probability states there must be a couple of other types of government.

Below are my speculations:

France-I see France as a form of nationalistic republic, one far more tied in the part of being a French Wizard than a pureblooded one. I got this impression from how the Beauxbatons (Fleur especially) considered English things inferior.

Germany-frankly I always saw magical Germany larger than the muggle one. Durmstrang is rumoured to be in the far north, and I see Scandinavia and Germany as one wizarding nation. In my opinion France-Britain-Germanic (as mentioned above) are the wizarding superpowers, considering they all have prestigious, old magical schools. I see the wizarding Germans as totalitarian frankly, and more brutal and Dark Arts oriented than the insane British, or the fluffy French. Considering the whole modern Dark Arts movement came from them, I see a sugar coated Dark Lord on the throne of Germany.

Romania-now Romania is famous in the books for two things: a dragon reserve, and beating England in the quarter finals in the Quidditch World Cup. Having a dragon reserve would imply a lot of open space, far away from the muggles. (no idea were they found that, but hey, maybe Wizard Romania has some parts which us muggles don't know about). Call me old fashion, but I see Wizarding Romania as an old, antiquated form of government. Dragons, which belong to the ancient times have three famous breeds in the Balkans-Ukranian Ironbelly, Hungarian Horntail, Romanian Longhorn. Wizarding Romania is run by an aristocracy in my mind, not a pureblood one necessarily, but a local form of aristocracy.

I will stop my ramblings now. What are your ideas/speculations?

 

In fanon it is often stated the Ben Franklin is a wizard.

Would he believe that all People are created EQUAL?

 

Durmstrang was never said to be in Germany. For all we know Germany could have it's own school, but since it's less prestigious it wasn't part of the Tri-Wizard tournament. Which makes sense, as Germany as a nation wouldn't have existed when the tournament was first made.

As for how I see England: realistically, I believe that the Ministry of Magic is in fact not a government unto itself, but in fact a single Ministry inside the Muggle government, just like the Ministry of Defence or Education or whatever.

However, due to the secrecy of magic, it's a Ministry that has run away with itself, to the point that the Muggle's don't even know that it's part of their government anymore. Memory charms and all that. As a result of this, I see the Minister not equivalent to the prime Minsiter but, say, the Minister for Health or whatever, and so not an elected position but a position that is appointed, probably by either the Wizengamot or the collective heads of departments.

That's what I think it is in canon.

Doesn't mean we can't have fun with wizarding governments in fan fiction though.

 

True, Germany did not exist at the time, but has been around as a form of political entity. As for the speculations I mostly mean fanon. If you'll remember my fic, I plan at a point to bring it internationally and I was attempting to garner ideas about other governments. It would be boring if I made every single country have Aurors and Ministers of Magic.

Durmstrang is in the far north isn't it? So it could be in Scandinavia, or Northern Russia for that point. I haven't made up my mind where I'll put it.

 

I think we should seek the roots of Durmstrang in the Byzantian Empire. Maybe the Plato's Academy was in fact an Academy of Magic, which was "closed" officially by Justinian the Great in 529 A.D. Than it was moved to Constantinople, where it remained until the fall of the city in 1453. Later it can be moved in two directions. Either to Russia (Tzars claimed to be heirs of the Byzantian emperors) or to Romania (especially Walachia). The second option give us explanation why Durmstrang teaches Dark Arts - to kill as much invading Turks as you can, with just couple spells.
As for the governments - we should decide if the big political-economical-social movements of Muggle history had any effect on the wizarding world? Have communism taken over half of Europe as in real world, or not?

 

You know, I like your ideas. I've thought about Roman Wizards before, but never imagined their ideals being transmitted as the Roman Empire ideals were.

EDIT: although it didn't quite start off as the location of Durmstrang. What do you think the magical government of Russia is, since you brought the country up?

2nd EDIT: you edited while I was editing. I think that the Wizarding World did turn communist in Russia. Maybe coupled with a revolution against the purebloods. That would add some diversity to it.

 

@Russia - I think the situation from real world is just fine. Magical Russia is authoritarian and it is waging an "civil war" with last communistic wizards that want to take the charge. And to add some more conflict, the "good guys" have to protect the nuclear silos from the Reds, because they want to use it to start another war so communism could rule the world.

 

Point taken, and Russia's internal turmoil would contribute to their weakness. I think African Wizarding governments would be more tribal in nature, according to their history.

Would America model the UK's government?

 

I don't know. I think we should left it to people from America. I'm not an expert. I can tell you what I think the magical government in Poland could look like, but nothing else. Let's leave the other countries to people who live there.

 

Well, I don't think we should forget our old friend "Bulgaria" - it was, after all, in the Word Cup, and apparently Krum is from there. It couldn't possibly be the location of Durmstrang (too southern), but perhaps there is some connection...?

But as for the US government? Well, that's a big tricky, I think.

I'd say it depends on how much we think the Magical community in the "colonies" had awareness of the Muggle side. I can EASILY imagine a situation where insular wizards (especially out of "Salem"?) still consider themselves either "all alone", or possibly STILL part of the British colonies. Could the MoM in the UK still maintain control over any areas the Muggle Brits left?

The other option is that perhaps the wizards were a part of the revolutionary war, perhaps helping to turn the tide toward Muggle-only redcoats? Maybe then they ingratiated themselves into the highest forms of government, ensuring these hidden wizards would always play a key role in the country.

But I dunno - I've never really read a GOOD version of how the magical government might work in the US. The other possibility is that there's no magical government at all - just a few small disconnected settlements like "Salem". Just a thought.

-J

 

I think it would be highly ironic if one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world was the most ass-backwards magical one. Salem, as having been mentioned in the books, may be the only real magical center since it kept close ties to magical Britain, but the rest of America, or the New World for that matter, is no-man's land due to the lack of wizards and consequently the lack of subjugation over the magical creatures. I can see the American magical community being over worked to keep the magical world a secret. You could keep a bastardized version of the pure bloods in the hill-billies as they like to 'keep it in the family' as it were.

On the flip side, perhaps the Men-in-Black as the wizards and they are a secret branch of the government kept to keep the magical world a secret. The school would be in area 51 or close by.

 

The MIB thing was done in a few fanfics. But it would be a twist if Magical USA was more of a British Protectorate than an independent government. Most fanfics portray the American Wizarding world as freedom loving, open minded, tolerant and modern. Frankly I usually stop reading at that point.

There is the possibility that the US magical world only exists along the coasts with the middle being 'badlands' where the native shamanic magic is more powerful and its more of a tribe system.

While agree Magical Germany may be bigger than muggle Germany, I don't think they would include Scandinavia. I envision magical 'Germany' to encompass Austria, Czech republic and parts of Switzerland and Poland. Probably still have lords ruling numerous counties.

Magical Scandinavia would be a separate entity and include Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. I've always keep envisioning Vikings when I think of this area (surprisingly...) so may be the system here is a throw back to the era of the vikings. There are clan chiefs in small pockets of wizards and then a Great chief and his ruling council over them all. All the positions would be decided by combat.

 

Making the assumption that the ministry of magic is under the muggle PM, which is sort of confirmed by Fudge in HBP. I also think that it has sort of run away with it's power over the wizarding population in britain, but thats another issue. I would see the American equivalent to be the Department of Magic, like Department of the Interior and so on and so forth. Same with Canada, it would have a Ministry of Magic like Britain. Since Harry and Ron and the rest of characters from Britain as we know identify as British, and root on country ties. There's still rivalry with the Irish and so forth. I think we can say that the wizards that live in America identify with their muggle nation.

 

I don't see why people think Durmstrang is in Germany. I don't wish to pinpoint its exact location, but I feel it is in an Eastern European country, and caters to students in the region, eg Krum who is from Bulgaria.

 

@ USA - The Department of Magic fully controls the East Cost of USA. In the South (the states around the Gulf of Mexico) the DoM is having problems with vampires, merfolk and swamp-people. In the West peace is kept by Pinkertons from the Pinkerton Agency. They work just like sheriffs from the Old West. And on the West Cost of USA DoM is having an conflict with Chinese and Japanese wizards that are making colonies in California. And in Alaska, there is war between American wizards and communistic wizards form Russia.
(What do you think of this idea?)
@ Durmstrang - The Balkans are the perfect location for this school. Just around the corner we have Greece, the oldest civilization in Europe, we have the Byzantian Empire with it Romans roots and we have an Turkish threat from the East.

 

I don't think so, at least until i'm sure october nights there, are cold enough to wear fur coats like. Sibir or Ukraine (dragons location) are likely too. Maybe even Skandinavian country. Think snow and harsh cold.
I think there isn't magical government in the US. Maybe close - family like communities of emmigrants there from UK and indian tribes.
We also know there is a magical school in Brazil ...

 

I've never been to Ukraine, but I live in Romania. Ukraine is a bit further north than Romania, but the climate is only mildly colder. In the winter is does go below zero, but the coldest ever recorded was -40 degrees Celsius. But winters are generally not unbearably harsh.

Franki's point about Durmstrang and continuing traditions is interesting. The Byzantine Empire succeeded the Roman Empire and the last orthodox princess of the Byzantines married into the Tsar's family. The Tsar (or Czar) whatever you prefer even named Russia as the new Rome. As such the area around Archangel seems a good location for Durmstrang.

 

There is also the issue with the rest of the world. In HP we are told that Bill or Charlie had a pen pal in Brazil I think, so we know there are wizard communities there. How would it work. Would there be wizard colonization in Latin America as well or is the wizard population indigenous?

And what about Africa? During the World Cup I believe there were African Wizards too, so how is it there? Is it tribal or modern? It would be interesting to see a fic were African wizards were one of the most advanced and prosperous. Perhaps Egypt as the Jewel of Magical Africa?

 

We're all making an assumption that the wizarding branch of the muggle ministry's still closely involved. The english wizards for example, they went into hiding from the muggles more than half a millennia ago. As a part of a pact with the other magical governments or by themselves it matters not.

What does matter however is that the national, and I use that term loosely here, borders were nothing like what they were today. From what we know of wizards they'd never suddenly say, Hey! We're all french now because the french muggles invaded this region! No, if they really have separated as has been mentioned a few times I don't see anything like national borders popping into their mindset. They'll all live wherever the hell they please.

 

I'd like to Imagine Wizarding Poland as a country where the old families still rule and only Szlachta ( Polish Nobility ) still has a say in anything. Where batles and bloodbaths are still normal between many ancient families that dabbed as deep as they could into Dark and even Black Magic , most of the children still learning from masters or going to the countries small but elite schools , focusing on a mastery of some subjects, mostly used in combat.

The mention of Hagrid running into some trolls at the Polish border in one of the books gives me a slightly darker idea of Poland