Is it merely a historical accident that liberal democracy and the rule of law emerged first in nations where monogamy was the virtually universal social norm?  University of Calgary political science professor Tom Flanagan thinks not.  In his view, there are good reasons to believe that polygamy is not conducive to responsible self-government and equality before the law, whereas monogamy does encourage the growth of liberal rights and freedoms.

Polygamous societies tend toward extreme authoritarianism and arbitrary government, with Draconian punishments to protect harems and control slaves and soldiers. Driven by millenniums of evolutionary pressure, young men will take extreme chances to find sexual gratification, so there have to be extreme punishments to control their libidinous passions. There is also a tendency toward permanent warfare, because plundering neighbouring peoples is the only way of satisfying the polygamous social system's limitless craving for women, slaves and soldiers.

Polygamous, authoritarian systems may achieve imperial conquest and cultural efflorescence, but they do not favour the growth of democracy. Based on arbitrary power, radical inequality, harsh laws and endless warfare, the milieu is the very opposite of constitutional democracy, which must rest on the rule of law, equality before the law, mild punishments, and peaceable exchange in free markets. Simply put, polygamy raises reproductive stakes to levels that make it difficult for males to practise the self-restraint required by constitutional democracy.

Because monogamy affords men roughly equal opportunities to marry and procreate, Dr Flanagan suggests that monogamy is an essential aspect of the foundation for liberal democracy and legal rights.

Dr Flanagan teaches a course that applies evolutionary biology to political behaviour.

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