HIST108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Livy, Quentin Skinner, English Civil War
What is constitutionalism?
What is republicanism?
What is liberalism?
Limits the exercise of political power, the means of this end in the assertion of the peoples' right to
resist government, depose a tyrant,
-
Resistance; division of sovereignty (federalism); separation of powers; 'checks and balances'
-
Constitutionalism - many definitions
Cromwell and Charles I
Oliver Cromwell, statue in front of house of parliament in England.
Charles the I in Trafalgar square, far from the government.
The government building bears a plaque, Charles the first stormed the house of commons
Origin of the English Parliamentary practice that no royal monarch are allowed to enter the house of
commons only the house of laws. Parliaments desire to constrain the royal power. Statue in front of the
house of commons suggests the constitutionalism as an important political condition.
A justification of royal monarchy - Thomas Hobbes (1588-1579), Leviathan (1651)
-
-
Proposed the absolutist thesis but on a different political theology. Thomas Hobbes arguably the
founder of modern political science. Political theory presented on rational basis not political
theology. Argument based on human being entering perpetual war without government. A war
against all. Therefore he argues that humans by mutual agreement entrusted all sovereign power
who makes all decisions on all public matters. This is the political origin of the state.
-
Compared to the monster leviathan in the old testament.
-
Maintenance of peace and order.
Political thought in seventeenth-century England
English republicans: Oliver Cromwell (led the English civil war, responsible for the execution of
Charles I) , John Milton important in the history of political thought justified the execution of
Charles the I as a tyrant. Political doctrine which opposes political monarchy. It is only one aspect.
-
Italian city-states in the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance
-
Small-scale government and civic independence
-
Venice, Florence, Siena successful Republics.
-
Enshrines a citizen's participation in political deliberation to defend the common good. Regards
participation as necessary to defend the common good. Generally refers to the citizens liberty and
equality. Freedom and independence of the political economy as a unit from external powers. Not
the same as direct democracy operates on the principal of representation a council to represent
the political community who makes the decisions on public matters. Expected to attend to the
interests of all in the political community.
-
Values communal independence from arbitrary exercise of power
-
Emphasises civic virtues, wants to see that every citizen has a public spirit to defend the public
good.
-
Republicanism
Siena
'Tyranny'
Political ideas. Tried to visualise the government under Tyranny. Personified by evil figure with horns.
Foot rests on a goat symbolising luxury and lust. Personified arrogance, vain glory. Accompanies by other
personified vices, cruelty etc. According to Lorenzetti.
'Virtuous Government' - Good Government adjacent to 'Tyranny'
Common good a key term in looking at republicanism.
Female figure as Conchord. You see rope running through all the citizens of the city of Siena.
The Prince (1513)
-
he rejected flatly that the ruler should be a respectable man.
'more important for the prince to appear as a virtuous man'
Prince should know when not to be virtuous.
Christian morality scoffed at Christian humanists who advised that honesty was the best policy.
Prince will come off best when he imitates the lion and the fox. Beastly qualities of a beast and
force. Should be politically cunning. Associated with amorality.
Challenged Christian and humanist morality
-
Politically cunning, cynicism (the belief that people are motivated by self-interest) and amorality
(doesn't believe in right or wrong)
-
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) Siena and …. inherited by one of the best known political philosophers.
Discourses on the First Ten Volumes of Titus Livius (pub.1531)
-
Through historical studies attempted to find out why the roman empire was so successful.
Enshrined the republican idea of morality.
Recent scholarship Quentin Skinner, presents the republican aspect. Understood as a Republican
thinker.
Republican liberty is the key to greatness
-
Machiavelli's Republicanism
Constitution as a hallmark of the modern state
Broadly defined as two strands of thought: republicanism and liberalism
European struggle against royal power in exercising authority.
Some presented republican ideas and other liberal ideas.
Republicanism has a long history dating back to
ancient Rome.
Controversial political writings.
Machiavelli had a bad reputation in European
history because in his major work the Prince
Constitutionalism
Lecture 21: HIST108
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
8:34 PM
HIST108 Page 1
Document Summary
Constitution as a hallmark of the modern state. Broadly defined as two strands of thought: republicanism and liberalism. European struggle against royal power in exercising authority. Limits the exercise of political power, the means of this end in the assertion of the peoples" right to resist government, depose a tyrant, Resistance; division of sovereignty (federalism); separation of powers; "checks and balances" Oliver cromwell, statue in front of house of parliament in england. Charles the i in trafalgar square, far from the government. The government building bears a plaque, charles the first stormed the house of commons. Origin of the english parliamentary practice that no royal monarch are allowed to enter the house of commons only the house of laws. Statue in front of the house of commons suggests the constitutionalism as an important political condition. A justification of royal monarchy - thomas hobbes (1588-1579), leviathan (1651) Proposed the absolutist thesis but on a different political theology.
