Oh, there are parallels to be drawn with real-world European monasteries, which preserved learning and order during the Dark Ages.

But it's not really the Dark Ages anymore. The Breaking is OVER, and has been for a while (the issue of whether a new one is about to happen, we'll put aside for now)

There isn't really a justification for the White Tower to have the influence it does, barring a few reasons. These are the reasons I imagine that Randland philosophers and the White Tower have come up with over the years:

1)It's useful for the world to have a (supposedly) netural party that (ostensibly) has the best interests of the world at heart.

2)SOMETHING has to be done with these channelers- if not regulated, there could be splinter groups, channeling wars, and who knows what else.

3) The White Tower stands for the Light, against the Dark One. It knows Secrets Beyond the Ken of Humanity.



These reasons all have an element of truth, but really, the White Power perpetuates its power and influence because it wants to have influence and power. The reasons I have are the justifications people like Egwene use to exert their influence, and the things nations tell themselves when the White Tower sticks its nose in their business.