Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

Diarchies

Diarchy (from Greek δι-, di-, "double", and -αρχία, -arkhía, "ruled"), duarchy, or duumvirate (from Latin duumvirātus, "the office of the two men") is a form of government characterized by corule, with two people ruling a polity together either lawfully or de facto, by collusion and force. The leaders of such a system are usually known as corulers.Historically, diarchy particularly referred to the system of shared rule in British India established by the Government of India Acts 1919 and 1935, which devolved some powers to local councils, which had included native Indian representation under the Indian Councils Act 1892.

2 episodes

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  1. Sparta

    Melvyn Bragg and guests Paul Cartledge, Edith Hall and Angie Hobbs discuss Sparta, the militaristic Ancient Greek city-state, and the political ideas it spawned.

    19 November 2009

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    Featuring: Paul Cartledge, Edith Hall, Angie Hobbs

     
  2. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the rise and fall of the largest republic in Europe, which for centuries elected its kings to rule alongside parliament and avoided religious wars.

    14 October 2021

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    Featuring: Robert I. Frost, Katarzyna Kosior, Norman Davies