The More Moderate Side of Joseph de Maistre: Views on Political Liberty and Political Economy (Volume 41) (McGill-Queen’s Studies in the Hist of Id)

The conventional image of French polemicist and diplomat Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821) is that of a theocrat and a proto-fascist. Cara Camcastle challenges this by considering his unpublished memoirs, memoranda, diplomatic correspondence, and letters. In an analysis of his ideas on political economy, international relations, and domestic politics, Camcastle reveals Maistre to have opposed absolutism and points to the views of an economic liberal and moderate conservative closer to Montesquieu, Smith, and Burke. The conventional image of French polemicist and diplomat Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821), one of the fathers of European counter-revolutionary and authoritarian conservatism, is that of a proto-fascist who believed in an exalted papacy and a divinely sanctioned monarchy. Cara Camcastle challenges this view, based on Maistre's published works, by considering his unpublished memoirs, memoranda, diplomatic correspondence, and letters. In an analysis of his ideas on political economy, international relations, and domestic politics, Camcastle reveals Maistre to have opposed absolutism and advocated free trade and economic liberalization, placing his views closer to those of moderates such as Montesquieu, Smith, and Burke. The More Moderate Side of Joseph de Maistre expertly contextualizes his work within the historical events and intellectual debates that emerged in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Camcastle sheds new light on Maistre's conception of government as made up of groups in dynamic counterbalance and on aspects of his economic system. Her more complete and balanced picture of Maistre's political writings is accompanied by translations of previously unpublished work that substantiate key points. "The More Moderate Side of Joseph de Maistre expertly contextualizes the work of de Maistre within the historical events and intellectual debates that emerged in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Camcastle sheds new light on Maistre's conception of government as being made up of groups in dynamic counterbalance and on the system of inconvertible paper money that he developed a century before a similar system was universally adopted in the twentieth century. Camcastle provides a more complete and balanced picture of Maistre's political writings through original interpretations of his published works and translations from French and Italian into English of previously unpublished writings that substantiate key points."--Résumé de l'éditeur "The More Moderate Side of Joseph de Maistre expertly contextualizes the work of de Maistre within the historical events and intellectual debates that emerged in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Camcastle sheds new light on Maistre's conception of government as being made up of groups in dynamic counterbalance and on the system of inconvertible paper money that he developed a century before a similar system was universally adopted in the twentieth century. Camcastle provides a more complete and balanced picture of Maistre's political writings through original interpretations of his published works and translations from French and Italian into English of previously unpublished writings that substantiate key points."--Jacket The More Moderate Side of Joseph de Maistre expertly contextualizes his work within the historical events and intellectual debates that emerged in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Camcastle sheds new light on Maistre's conception of government as being made up of groups in dynamic counterbalance and on the system of inconvertible paper money that he developed a century before a similar system was universally adopted in the twentieth century. Camcastle provides a more complete and balanced picture of Maistre's political writings through original interpretations of his published works and translations from French and Italian into English of previously unpublished writings that substantiate key points. Contents Acknowledgments Preface I: Maistre's Lodestars: Authority, Equilibrium, and Justice II: Maistre on Inconvertibility, Inflation, and Taxes III: Maistre on Commerce IV: The Balance of Power Conclusion APPENDICES 1 Report on the commerce in grain between Carouge and Geneva 2 Letter to the King of Piedmont regarding the export of grain 3 Regarding paper money in the state of Piedmont 4 Memoir on the project for a bank 5 Letter to Galleani Napione 6 Letter on the Pala case Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W