Good personal management as a feature of republicanism? Analyzing practice instead of theory on the case of the outsets of the Dutch "True Freedom"
Abstract
In my contribution, I argue that a scholar does not need to wait until a norm reaches the stage of theoretical writings. It reveals itself faster (and earlier) in public debate and, in reaction to it, in law and ordinances.
In my study, I evaluate the corpus of "placards" (ordinances of public authorities such as the States General, the individual provinces or cities), focusing on the system change in 1650 and the early period of the "True freedom". Through these sources, I will demonstrate that the norm of good personal management was present long before its theoretical reflection and has been used to legitimize the new regime.
Since we can also consult sources providing us with insight into the decision-making and wording of the ordinances, we are confidently able to interpret the norms as a reaction (and often even concession) to the public opinion. In this perspective, the norm of good personal management is to be seen not primarily as an ideological conviction of the theoretical fathers of the "True Freedom", but rather as a reaction to what was held to be a predominant public opinion.