French Political Thought from Montesquieu to Tocqueville by Annelien De Dijn

French Political Thought from Montesquieu to Tocqueville by Annelien De Dijn

This study makes a major contribution to our understanding of one of the most important and enduring strands of modern political thought. Annelien de Dijn argues that Montesquieu's aristocratic liberalism - his conviction that the preservation of freedom in a monarchy required the existence of an aristocratic 'corps interm diaire' - had a continued impact on post-revolutionary France. Revisionist historians from Furet to Rosanvallon have emphasised the impact of revolutionary republicanism on post-revolutionary France, with its monist conception of politics and its focus on popular sovereignty. Dr de Dijn, however, highlights the persistence of a pluralist liberalism that was rooted in the Old Regime, and which saw democracy and equality as inherent threats to liberty. She thus provides an alternative context in which to read the work of Alexis de Tocqueville, who is revealed as the heir not just of Restoration liberals, but also of the Royalists and their hero, Montesquieu.

"[A] highly accomplished, persuasive, and important contribution to the broader understanding of nineteenth century liberalism" Canadian Journal of Political Science, Suzanne Smith, Harvard University

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521200752
ISBN 10	052120075X
Title	French Political Thought from Montesquieu to Tocqueville
Author	Annelien De Dijn
Series	Ideas In Context
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2012-01-26
Number of pages	222
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.