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Integrating Republicanism: A Conceptual Approach

Publication at Faculty of Social Sciences |
2020

Abstract

Republicanism is often divided into neo-Roman and neo-Athenian versions. Although this division can be useful for certain analytical purposes, both traditions considered separately might provide only a more limited and narrower vision of republicanism and thus deprive republican political theory of valuable insights.

My contribution to the conference will propose that it might instead be both historically and theoretically preferable to think about neo-Roman and neo-Athenian strands as of two branches of a single integrated republican tradition; or in other words, as of the two sides of the same coin. Under such a view, history of republican tradition could be understood as a constant interplay of originally Greek, Roman and contemporary influences.

The proposed overarching account of republicanism is internally unified by a dynamic cluster of intertwined core concepts retaining relatively stable meanings and morphology throughout different historical eras. My presentation will introduce a morphological diagram of these core republican concepts and its transhistorical change.

I will also briefly explore their mutual relations and suggest how the whole cluster differs from other public philosophies. Finally, on such a conceptually "integrated" ground, republican political theory utilising both the insights of neo-Athenian and neo-Roman strands combined could be built.