Are there any other Ministries of Magic?

[DougJohnston]

After re-reading The Order of The Phoenix I was begining to wonder how the different nations were reacting and helping with the war against Voldemort and his death eaters. Towards the end of the book, the real story about Voldemort returning appears in the Daily Prophet and warns the magical community to be on the alert and tells them that a self defense guide will be sent to all wizarding homes for their saftey. So the UK knows about Voldemort and is preparing but what about the wizards in the rest of the world? In my opinion everyone is at danger because I dont think Voldemort with stop until the whole world is obeying his every command. So are there other ministries of magic? Do they all work together and rely on eachother for information about the happenings in their area? What are the people in other countries doing to protect themselves?

Thanks for your help with the thread BK

[twinkle260280]

I think that there is a Ministry of Magic for each country, same as muggle countries have their own governments. I'm sure the Bulgarian Minister of Magic was at the Quidditch World cup final. Maybe there is a Wizarding International Council a bit like the United Nations.

[IheartLupin12]

Im sure that the other countries must be preparing just as much as Britain. It does make sense that they have their own personal "Ministries," where the laws of their own countries are regulated and carried out. It will certainly be very important for the different countries to work together and joing forces now that the war is coming...
I can see the final battle in a Lord of the Rings-ish style..."Oh, here come the House Elves...and the Ghosts...and the Giants..."and so on. I just hope its a little more original:)

[DougJohnston]

Those are some really good points you guys made there. Now that I think of it, it must be neccisary to have Ministries in other countries because they need to have their own sets of rules and laws also.

[Alastor_Moody]

It's only logical that there are other Ministries of Magic. However, I don't think that they'll be playing any roles in the story line. If my memory serves me right, I think I've read somewhere that JKR won't be tying the story in with other foreign wizards/witches (apart from those that we already know of, i.e. Madame Maxime, Fleur, Krum, etc.), but I could be wrong.

Another thing is that it would be far too complicate to get the story lines of international cooperations incorporated into the last 2 books. Should there be any at all, there should have been some indications in earlier books about it.

[filius]

GoF has mentioned that there is a Bulgarian MoM so there must be others as well.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Since there is a Department of International Magical Cooperation (or something like that) I would think that each nation cooperates with the other governments in many ways.

[DougJohnston]

Any ideas to what the other Ministries use as a wizard prison? Fudge could probably learn from them since he has let the dementors run wild!

[Micoura]

Of course there are other Ministries. One for each country or region. THAT IS SOOOOOOOO COOL! :elaugh:

Sincerely,
Paige

[Albusdaughter]

Any ideas to what the other Ministries use as a wizard prison? Fudge could probably learn from them since he has let the dementors run wild!

Well countries like Hungary with their native populations of very fierce dragons might use them to guard a prison. (A bit like the castle in Shrek where Princess Fiona is rescued from!) It is rumored that there are dragons at Gringott's and Fudge did suggest one to guard the school at the end of PoA so could work!

[SquibOnline]

If you read GoF you see the bulgarian minister of magic

[arcanus]

Those are some really good points you guys made there. Now that I think of it, it must be neccisary to have Ministries in other countries because they need to have their own sets of rules and laws also.

Don't forget, there's the international confederation of warlocks (I think), and there are laws that are binding for ALL countries (remember, Scotland and Tibet are frequently punished, for not being capable of dealing with their native magical creatures [the loch ness kelpie and the yeti]). However, I don't think that other countries will get really involved in the future story, since Jo wants to keep it Britain based which I understand, but I'm sure that the other wizarding communities will be as afraid as the Brits are and I would be very surprised if we didn't hear what the other ministers of magic think about Voldemorts return (well, not the reaction of all ministers, that would take an entire book for itself :p )

[Spikey]

Well we hear about the Bulgarian minister of magic in GOF. So I'm pretty sure that there is one for each country. Aslo if there was'nt ,what would be the point of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. If there was'nt a MOM for each country.

[Shauna]

There has to be, because there is no way the UK MOM would be able to handle keeping the secrecy of the entire wizarding world all by itself.

Shauna

[dorcasderr]

Are we sure all other countries are secretive about their magic? Some seem a whole lot closer to magic than others. Of course other countries have something approximating the Ministry of Magic; they might not call it by that name, however.

[Alastor D]

Ministries or ministers mentioned in the books are:
Andorra
Bangladesh
Bulgaria
India
Iran
Mongolia
Norway
New Zealand
Pakistan

Seems to indicate that all countries have them. But perhaps the smallest have so few wizards that they don't need a ministry

[DougJohnston]

Thanks Alastor D!
I never even noticed that in the reading, great job!

[marcasitevah]

Seems to indicate that all countries have them. But perhaps the smallest have so few wizards that they don't need a ministry

Maybe some of wizards in the smaller countries in certain areas group together and form a joint MoM. It makes you wonder if there are versions of cooperation much like NATO or the EU, outside of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. For some reason I think that department sounds more like a consulate or something along those lines.

[theloof]

In GoF, Fudge tries to talk with the Bulgarian Minister for Magic remember?...shows there are other ministries...

[Kimmetje]

It sounds like every country that has a lot of wizards has it's own MoM. I like the Bulgarian Minister as proof as it does show that there are more wizards over the whole world.

In GoF Ron says that his brother had a friend in Brazile, which means there is magic in that part of the world as well. So I think that there is a MoM in Brazile as well-which makes me think that there are MoM's in the whole Wizard World.

[Mundungus Fletc]

Isn't Transyllvania mentioned as well? Not a country but part of Roumania. And along similar lines why is the headquarters of the Irish Quidditch league in the London MoM

[TerrierMom]

In the USA, it wouldn't be the Ministry, it'd be the Department. Department of Witchcraft and Wizardry maybe.

[gred&forge4ever]

I agree that each country has to have their own magically government. If the series models WW2, Voldy would set his sights of Europe thaen expand and the US would keep their heads in the sand(generall wizarding community), while the leaders saw the danger and secretly helped.

[forgetfulgenius]

It makes you wonder if there are versions of cooperation much like NATO or the EU, outside of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

That would be the international confederation of wizards/warlocks (can't remember which)

If there are wizards in other countries, then there must be more Ministries. For instance,the UK Ministry is always poking it's nose in at Hogwarts, but we never hear of it doing so for other schools~ the Ministry in that country has responsibility for it.

[Gwenog Jones]

Yes, there are other Ministries. We are shown this in GoF, when we meet the Bulgarian Minsiter of Magic. I think it is also mentioned somewhere about an Interational Confederation of Warlocks.

[DougJohnston]

I kinda wonder whether the other countries would take Fudge and Dumbledore seriously :huh: Dumbledore would be known worldwide because of his magical talent right?

[slavetopadfoot]

yes there are other ministries of magic. we actually meet the bulgarian minister of magic at the quidditch world cup in GoF... yah i'm also curious as to why they don't help with the voldemort problem... i mean it affects them, TOO... gosh, some people... (jkjkjk)

[voxyn]

think of the olympics. like the nation ceremonies in the begining. some nations have biggere delegations than others. well it can be the same with smaller nations boasting wizards. a country like finland has only 5 million ppl. and the chance of having more than 100 wizards in finland might seems out of line. but in the U.K, there might be more ppl who are tuned with magic. but in micronasia, there might be only one or two. and that person might not even know she is a wizard or witch, she has no recollection of what u can do when ur a wizard. i tend to think of it as a force sensitive person in the stawars universe. only limited ppl are jedi's during the galactice civil war. but during the old republic, they were in abundance. that cuz they were taught by more masters to unleash the force inside them. but during gcw there was only luke, and he only learned hes a jedi when ben told him. so u wonder how someone from a small country can know they are wizard.

[DougJohnston]

Very true :agree: Good comparision with the olympics. So I guess one point to be made is whilst there are other ministries throughout the world they are probably far less organised than the ministry in the UK right? There could be many unknown wizards and wizard civilizations throughout the world that dont know they are wizards or that there are others like them :huh:

[ParselTongue]

I doubt they will do much if anything to help them. Right now they are probly viewing it as there problem while at the same time getting there selfs ready for what might happen. They are probly thinking if they help they become targets so just wait till he comes over to wherever they are to do anything.

[DougJohnston]

A lot of the Ministries probably aren't as big as the one in the U.K. which will make easy targets for Voldemort to want to take over. Hopefully everyone will work together to stay safe and keep Voldemort from gaining more loyal servants...:scared:

[theboyhoolivd]

Finally...a good thread! This is an interesting topic. Hey...I like it!! I have absolutely no clue as to whether there are any other ministries. Hmmm. I don't recall ever reading about one...wait...in the fourth book wasn't there a Bulgarian minister? Yes, I think there was. I'm blanking on his name, but oh well. You can't have everything in life.

[LooNy_LuVgood]

Well, since there's a Bulgarian minister I think it's safe to say that a lot of countries have ministries of magic. There's probably an American ministry!
*goes outside to look for broken telephone box* :p

[DougJohnston]

Finally...a good thread! This is an interesting topic. Hey...I like it!! I have absolutely no clue as to whether there are any other ministries. Hmmm. I don't recall ever reading about one...wait...in the fourth book wasn't there a Bulgarian minister? Yes, I think there was. I'm blanking on his name, but oh well. You can't have everything in life.

:) I'm glad you like my thread...I like it too :D
Here is a very informative post by Alastor D

Ministries or ministers mentioned in the books are:
Andorra
Bangladesh
Bulgaria
India
Iran
Mongolia
Norway
New Zealand
Pakistan

Seems to indicate that all countries have them. But perhaps the smallest have so few wizards that they don't need a ministry

[maeve]

This isn't exactly on topic but...Was it sort of implied in PoA that the muggle English government knows about the wizarding world? If I remember correctly (and I might not), Fudge says something about informing people in the British government about the situation with Black. And if this is true, do they know he's a Minister of Magic?

[DougJohnston]

This isn't exactly on topic but...Was it sort of implied in PoA that the muggle English government knows about the wizarding world? If I remember correctly (and I might not), Fudge says something about informing people in the British government about the situation with Black. And if this is true, do they know he's a Minister of Magic?

As far as I know, all that the muggles knew was that Sirius Black was an escaped murderer carrying a gun. The wizards called it something like a "muggle wand used to kill eachother" I believe.

[SquibOnline]

Yup, we hear about them in GoF

[IrishPhoenix711]

Isn't Transyllvania mentioned as well? Not a country but part of Roumania. And along similar lines why is the headquarters of the Irish Quidditch league in the London MoM

::Shocked:: you're right, I never gave that much thought. Ireland would definitely have thier own Magical Government... perhaps the Irish Quidditch League refers to Northern Irish teams? Or maybe they have a headquarters there if they want to scout British players, since leagues are commercial.

It is, however, most likely that Jo didn't think much when she put this in. But I think she would have been more careful, she clearly understands the fierce pride of the Irish judging from certain lines from the QWC.

I have to admit this upsets me greatly. We want our own deparment!

[can you tell I'm of Irish nationality from this post? haha]

This isn't exactly on topic but...Was it sort of implied in PoA that the muggle English government knows about the wizarding world? If I remember correctly (and I might not), Fudge says something about informing people in the British government about the situation with Black. And if this is true, do they know he's a Minister of Magic?


The Brit government is set up with a Prime Minister, he is head of everything. Departments exist such as "Ministry of Defence", etc; I would assume that the The Ministry of Magic is a department of the British Ministry. Otherwise a title more along the line of "Wizarding Prime Minister" would be more fitting to the MoM.

Uncle Vernon exclaims in OotP about people like Harry in government - 'no wonder this country's going to the dogs'. Clearly just the phrase "Ministry of Magic" implied to Vernon that it is a department within the Brit. Gov - and not seperate from.

There are many references to the wizards having to cooperate with the Muggle Government, so the higher ups in the Ministry of Britain must be aware of the magical community.

Just imagine Blair and Fudge drinking tea in the board room... perhaps the Queen can come too...

[Lucybird]

Bulgaria certainly has one... we saw their minister in GOF I expect all the countrie's have one. And if Voldy is a risk to them they would be told

[superfeds]

Id be interested in seeing the American Mistry of Defense, seeing as how I am American. Lol

You would think someone like Voldemort would bring together more international cooperation, I understand for purposes of the story it isnt that desirable, but it is something that I would be interested to hear more about. Like a Wizard United Nations or NATO or something like that.

[Alastor D]

There is an International Confederation of Wizards. Perhaps that one is like a Wizard UN or something.

[superfeds]

Yeah, I wonder what their role is.

They say that Charlie is staying in Romania to recruit as many foreign wizards as they can. I wonder if now everyone knows Voldemort is back if that will bring more support to the Order.

Something I just thought of. Now that everyone knows Voldemort is back, does that mean that his supporters will increase? Could be a double edged sword.

[Island Jack]

Yeah, in the States it'd have to be "department" instead of "ministry," like TerrierMom said. In a way, I'm glad htta JKR is leavin the Americans out of it. I could just see the ensuing nightmare. I have the feeling that us Americans, on the whole don't have the best world-wide sterotype right now, and no matter which way JKR represented the U.S. "department," there would be some kind of backlash. She's playing it straight and keeping it safe and leaving the Americans out of it. Besides, I've always gotten the feeling that the U.S. never really played into the overall story she wants to tell.

As much as I'd like to see an American Wizard/Witch and how he/she were portrayed, I think it's a can of worms better left closed. I was happy enough when I caught mention of a Polish Wizard, a Quiddich player, I think during GoF. Correct me if I'm wrong on that one. I'd love the info.