Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty: War, Religion, Commerce, Climate, Terrain, Technology, Uneasiness of Mind, the Spirit of Political Vigilance, and the Foundations of the Modern Republic »

The author of Soft Despotism, Democracy’s Drift, Paul A. Rahe holds the Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in the Western Heritage at Hillsdale College.

This fresh examination of the works of Montesquieu seeks to understand the shortcomings of the modern democratic state in light of this great political thinker’s insightful critique of commercial republicanism.

The western democracies’ muted response to victory in the Cold War signaled the presence of a pervasive discontent, a sense that despite this victory liberal democracy itself was deeply flawed. Paul A. Rahe argues that to understand this phenomenon we must re-examine—starting with Montesquieu—the nature of liberal democracy, its character, and its propensities. In a brilliant exposition of the works of Montesquieu Rahe identifies the profound sense of uneasiness fostered by the modern republic as a source of weakness and as the principal cause of the present discontents.

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xv

List of Abbreviations xxiii

Book 1 The Modern Republic Discovered

Preface 3

1 After the Fall 6

2 Rome Eclipsed 27

3 Carthage Ascendant 43

Book 2 The Modern Republic Explored

Preface 63

1 Principles 65

2 Uneasiness 86

3 Partisanship 103

4 Corruption 118

Book 3 The Modern Republic in Prospect

Preface 147

1 Nature's Dominion 150

2 Commercial Civilization 170

3 Monarchy's Plight 186

4 Democracies Based on Commerce 212

Afterwards 239

Notes 243

Index 327