Land of Oz

Economy and Politics

Some political analysts have claimed that Oz is a barely disguised socialist utopia, though most Baum scholars differ strenuouslyhttp://www.eskimo.com/~tiktok/faq02.html#15. Advocates of this theory support it using this quotation from The Emerald City of Oz:

Related Topics:
Socialist - Utopia - The Emerald City of Oz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"There were no poor people in the land of Oz, because there was no such thing as money, and all property of every sort belonged to the Ruler. Each person was given freely by his neighbours whatever he required for his use, which is as much as anyone may reasonably desire. Every one worked half the time and played half the time, and the people enjoyed the work as much as they did the play, because it is good to be occupied and to have something to do. There were no cruel overseers set to watch them, and no one to rebuke them or to find fault with them. So each one was proud to do all he could for his friends and neighbors, and was glad when they would accept the things he produced."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, other passages in the Oz books contradict this: for example, when Dorothy first enters the Emerald City in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, she sees children paying with green pennies. Also, as Oz is ruled by a monarch, benevolent though she may be, it cannot be a true socialist society.

Related Topics:
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Monarch - Benevolent

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In The Wonder City of Oz Princess Ozma (called "Queen Ozma" in this book) is seen running for election ("ozlection") to her office as ruler against Jenny Jump a half-fairy newcomer from New Jersy.

Related Topics:
The Wonder City of Oz - Jenny Jump - New Jersy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The rulers of Oz's territories have grander titles than would normally be customary, but this is done mostly for the satisfaction of the incumbents. The ruler of the Winkie Country is the Emperor, the Tin Woodsman. The ruler of the Quadling Country is Queen Glinda the Good.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~