I am currently re-reading the LOTR. One of the main themes I am finding is that Tolkien thought that big government, trying to control he population, to be an evil that must be eradicated and the ideal type of government was one where people were allowed to go about their business with as little interference as possible.
That explains why they ended up with a King.
“Their time was mostly spent growing food and eating it, brewing beer and drinking it. The rest was spent throwing up.”
Is Saruman and Sauron the epitome of the all seeing big brother / big government?
He was certainly against socialism and other flavors of collectivism. (Which is why Peter Jackson, really, really, REALLY didn’t want to do The Scouring in his movies.)
However, I think it’s clear that the work is pro-monarchy—else he would have had his few royal characters abdicate their thrones in favor of a Republic.