Anti-Democracy in England 1570-1642

Erscheinungsjahr 2022
ISBN: 978-0-19-286609-7
Verlag: Oxford University Press

Buch, Englisch, 296 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 238 mm, Gewicht: 594 g

Anti-democracy in England 1570-1642 is a detailed study of anti-democratic ideas in early modern England. By examining the rich variety of debates about democracy that took place between 1570 and 1642, it shows the key importance anti-democratic language held in the late Tudor and early Stuart periods. In particular, it argues that anti-democratic critiques were addressed at 'popular government' as a regime that empowered directly and fully the irrational, uneducated, dangerous commonalty; it explains why and how criticism of democracy was articulated in the contexts here under scrutiny; and it demonstrates that the early modern era is far more relevant to the development of democratic concepts and practices than has hitherto been acknowledged. The study of anti-democracy is carried out through a close textual analysis of sources often neglected in the history of political thought and by way of a contextual approach to Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Caroline history. Most importantly, the study re-evaluates the role of religion and cultural factors in the history of democracy and of political ideas more generally. The point of departure is at a time when the establishment and Presbyterians were at loggerheads on pivotal politico-ecclesiastical and theoretical matters; the end coincides with the eruption of the Civil Wars. Cesare Cuttica not only places the unexplored issue of anti-democracy at the centre of historiographical work on early modern England, but also offers a novel analysis of a precious portion of Western political reflection and an ideal platform to discuss the legacy of principles that are still fundamental today.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Cuttica, Cesare

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Europäische Länder
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtswissenschaft Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Introduction

- 1: Opening. The Anti-Democratic Paradigm (1570s-1590s): Establishment versus Presbyterians

- 2: Democracy's External Allies: Puritan Jesuits, Jesuitical Orators, and Novelty-Seeking Calvinists

- 3: Democracy's Internal Allies: Protestant Conventicles, Tribunitial MPs, and the Multitude

- 4: Democracy's Foreign Models: Athens, Switzerland, Münster

- 5: Democracy's National Cornerstones: Ecclesiastical Parity and Political Equality

- 6: Closure. The Anti-Democratic Paradigm (Late 1630s-Early 1640s): Tyrannical Democracy

- Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Cesare Cuttica's main research interests lie in the history of ideas in early modern Britain and Europe. The study of patriarchalism, absolute power, resistance theory, republicanism, patriotic ideals, and democracy has been the keynote of his work so far. In addition, he has written about the practice of history-writing, notably about the methodology of intellectual history.