A World Without a King: Political Anarchy and the Fragmentation of Mid-World in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Series

Despite the series’ significance as Stephen King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower series has not received extensive scholarly attention, particularly regarding its political and social implications. This paper examines the theme of anarchy in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series, focusing on the consequences of the collapse of central authority in Mid-World. Drawing from the concept of anarchy, this study explores how in the absence of a centralised authority political instability spreads, allowing factionalism, violence, and war to thrive. The theoretical section outlines various perspectives on anarchy, particularly from its critics, while the analytical section applies these perspectives to The Dark Tower series. Key historical events in the series, such as the fall of Arthur Eld and the dissolution of the Affiliation, are analysed to illustrate the breakdown of order and the rise of warring factions. Ultimately, the research concludes that The Dark Tower series portrays anarchy as a destabilising force, and the series reinforces the notion that the absence of centralised authority leads to chaos and political disorder.