Montesquieu's Liberalism and the Problem of Universal Politics

Dubbed 'the Oracle' By No Less An Authority Than James Madison, Montesquieu Stands As A Theoretical Founder Of The Liberal Political Tradition. But Equally Central To His Project Was His Account Of The Relationship Of Law To Each Nation's Particular Customs And Place, A Teaching That Militates Against Universal Political Solutions. This Teaching Has Sometimes Been Thought To Stand In Tension With His Liberal Constitutionalism. In This Book, Keegan Callanan Argues That Montesquieu's Political Particularism And Liberalism Are Complementary And Mutually Reinforcing Parts Of A Coherent Whole. In Developing This Argument, Callanan Considers Montesquieu's Regime Pluralism, Psychological Conception Of Liberty, Approach To Political Reform, And Account Of 'the Customs Of A Free People', Including The Complex Interaction Of Religion And Commerce. Callanan Concludes That, By Re-orienting Our Understanding Of Liberalism And Redirecting Our Attention Toward Liberty's Distinctive Preconditions, A Return To Montesquieu's Political Philosophy Leaves Us Better Prepared To Confront Liberal Democracy's Contested Claim To Universality. Introduction -- Montesquieu And Classical Particularism -- Montesquieu And Humanist Constitutionalism -- Regime Pluralism -- Understanding Liberal Culture -- Religion, Secularism, And Liberal Society -- The Spirit Of Tolerance And Gentleness -- Political Change And The Psychology Of Liberty -- Conclusion. Keegan Callanan, Middlebury College. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 10.0000@www.cambridge.org@6367C3FDFCB0AF96F544809386695BAB 10.0000@www.cambridge.org@70ECD279190C835487EABC86F0A265E2 10.0000@www.cambridge.org@FAEF9F29ED69B01572840EC4E9B61C28 10.0000@www.cambridge.org@02AA458FECC7FAB7D8B81A128177E479 10.0000@www.cambridge.org@ABEAE0D155730A1FD46E8E6E667434FB introduction (1) montesquieu-and-classical-particularism montesquieu-and-humanist-constitutionalism regime-pluralism understanding-liberal-culture religion-secularism-and-liberal-society the-spirit-of-tolerance-and-gentleness political-change-and-the-psychology-of-liberty conclusion bibliography index