Rousseau's Constitutionalism

Austerity and Republican Freedom

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Law, Jurisprudence, Constitutional
Cover of the book Rousseau's Constitutionalism by Dr Eoin Daly, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Dr Eoin Daly ISBN: 9781509903481
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: June 29, 2017
Imprint: Hart Publishing Language: English
Author: Dr Eoin Daly
ISBN: 9781509903481
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: June 29, 2017
Imprint: Hart Publishing
Language: English

Despite Rousseau's legacy to political thought, his contribution as a constitutional theorist is underexplored. Drawing on his constitutional designs for Corsica and Poland, this book argues that Rousseau's constitutionalism is defined chiefly by its socially directive character. His constitutional projects are not aimed, primarily, at coordinating and containing state power in the familiar liberal-democratic sense. Instead, they are aimed at fostering the social conditions in which a fuller sense of freedom – understood broadly as non-domination – can be realised across all social domains. And in turn, since Rousseau views domination as being deeply embedded in complex social practices, his constitutionalism is aimed at fostering a radical austerity – social, economic and cultural – as its foil. In locating Rousseau's constitutional projects within his social and political theory of servitude and domination, this book will challenge the predominant focus and orientation of contemporary republican theory. Leading republican thinkers have drawn on the historical republican canon to articulate a model of constitutionalism which is, on the whole, 'liberal' in focus and orientation. This book will argue that the more communitarian orientation of Rousseau's constitutionalism – that is, its socially-directive focus – stems from a sophisticated and compelling account of the sources of unfreedom in complex societies, sources which are ignored or downplayed by the neo-republican literature. Rousseau embraces a communitarian social politics as part of his constitutional project precisely because, pessimistically, he views domination as being deeply embedded in the social relations of the liberal order.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Despite Rousseau's legacy to political thought, his contribution as a constitutional theorist is underexplored. Drawing on his constitutional designs for Corsica and Poland, this book argues that Rousseau's constitutionalism is defined chiefly by its socially directive character. His constitutional projects are not aimed, primarily, at coordinating and containing state power in the familiar liberal-democratic sense. Instead, they are aimed at fostering the social conditions in which a fuller sense of freedom – understood broadly as non-domination – can be realised across all social domains. And in turn, since Rousseau views domination as being deeply embedded in complex social practices, his constitutionalism is aimed at fostering a radical austerity – social, economic and cultural – as its foil. In locating Rousseau's constitutional projects within his social and political theory of servitude and domination, this book will challenge the predominant focus and orientation of contemporary republican theory. Leading republican thinkers have drawn on the historical republican canon to articulate a model of constitutionalism which is, on the whole, 'liberal' in focus and orientation. This book will argue that the more communitarian orientation of Rousseau's constitutionalism – that is, its socially-directive focus – stems from a sophisticated and compelling account of the sources of unfreedom in complex societies, sources which are ignored or downplayed by the neo-republican literature. Rousseau embraces a communitarian social politics as part of his constitutional project precisely because, pessimistically, he views domination as being deeply embedded in the social relations of the liberal order.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Shakespeare and Postcolonial Theory by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book TESOL: A Guide by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Constitutionalising Secession by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Landmark Cases in the Law of Tort by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Research Methods for the Social Sciences by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Destroying a Nation by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Hitlerjugend Soldier vs Canadian Soldier by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Sounds, Screens, Speakers by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book QFINANCE: The Ultimate Resource, 4th edition by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Collaborative Translation by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Mindfulness by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book Italian Cruisers of World War II by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book The Colt 1911 Pistol by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book The European Banking Union and Constitution by Dr Eoin Daly
Cover of the book The Light That Gets Lost by Dr Eoin Daly
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy