This is not a religious question but I want to know whether the Torah or Talmud has anything to say about how a country should be administered ? Does Torah or Talmud or any other Jewish philosopher support or reject communism or democracy (capitalistic democracy)?
Great question. (In my opinion, by the way, every question is a religious one, or at least a “spiritual” one.)I heard Rav Yaakov Weinberg ZT”L say that the answer to this question is in the Mishna in Pirkei Avos that states:
“One who says what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours is an average person, and some say a Sodomite; What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine is an ignoramus; What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is yours is a Chasid; What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine is a Rasha.”
Communism is the second type – “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.” The Mishna doesn’t call this “evil” rather “ignorant”. Capitalism is clearly the Jewish way, as we see throughout the Torah and Talmud. But the Jewish focus is not on rights; rather, on responsibilities. Capitalism works Jewishly when everyone, for instance, dutifully – religiously – gives 10% of their income to the needy, for example.
Politically, the Torah clearly calls for a benevolent monarchy that has a system of checks and balances, chiefly a court made of sages who have real power. The king is not above the law. The king is chosen by Divine fiat; the judges are chosen by their merit. Legislation is created democratically.