Republicanism: A Theoretical and Historical Perspective

We live in a world in which almost all states purport to be republican. Very few adhere to the Ciceronian concept of res publica, understood as "that which belongs to the popolo (respublica respopuli) [...] and which has the observance of the law and the commonality of interests as its foundation". The concept of republicanism is traditionally connected to the principle that true political freedom consists of not being subject to the arbitrary will of any man or group of men, and it requires equality of civil and political rights. Republicanism has attracted scholars who aim to develop insights from the classical republican tradition into an attractive political doctrine suitable for modern pluralistic societies. The volume examines republicanism from an historical and theoretical perspective after many years of scholarly investigation and debate.