What is Republicanism?

Republicanism is a concept of government, inspired by the Enlightenment and the American Revolution, which seeks to limit the power of rulers, give rights to citizens and promote popular sovereignty. Its core values are generally freedom, democracy and popular sovereignty. Republicanism is a vital concept in political theory, and is seen as the cornerstone of Western philosophical thought.

History of Republicanism

Republicanism has its roots in Classical political thought, which emphasize the need for checks and balances against absolute power and the protection of individual liberties. In 4th century BC, the first known republics were established in the form of city-states in the Mediterranean region, with laws which were constitutional in nature and fulfilled the Greeks notion of “democracy”. This concept was then developed over the centuries by numerous great philosophers, such as Aristotle and Cicero in the Roman Republic. Republicanism continued to develop into the Middle Ages, when countries gradually adopted more democratic forms of government with the rise of nation-states.

The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment was a period in which revolutionary thinkers sought to advance the concepts of human rights, accountability of rulers, and the rule of law. This period saw the emergence of prominent advocates of freedom and formal systems of government, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant. Republicanism was a key concept of Enlightenment philosophy and it sought to replace feudalism and monarchies with more democratic forms of government. This period saw the birth of the American Revolution and the establishment of the first republics in the United States and France.

In conclusion, Republicanism is a system of government which seeks to protect the rights of citizens, limit the power of rulers, and promote popular sovereignty. Its core values are freedom, democracy and popular sovereignty. Although the concept of Republicanism has its roots in classical political thought, it was during the Age of Enlightenment that its fundamental principles began to shape Western thinking. Republicanism has been a key influence on the American Revolution and the formation of the first republics.