Certain English writers of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, whom scholars often associate with classical republicanism, were not, in fact, hostile to liberalism. Indeed, these thinkers contributed to a synthesis of liberalism and modern republicanism. As this book argues, Marchamont Nedham, James Harrington, Henry Neville, Algernon Sidney, and John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, the co-authors of a series of editorials entitled Cato's Letters, provide a synthesis that responds to the demands of both republicans and liberals by offering a politically engaged citizenry as well as the protection of individual rights. The book also reinterprets the writings of Machiavelli and Hobbes to show that each contributed in a fundamental way to the formation of this liberal republicanism.
Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I. The Foundations of Liberal Republicanism: 1. Machiavelli's republicanism; 2. Hobbes on peace, the passions and politics; Part II. The Formation of the Synthesis: 3. Marchamont Nedham and the beginnings of a Liberal republicanism; 4. The distinctive modern republicanism of James Harrington; 5. Henry Neville's proposal for a republic under the form of monarchy; 6. Algernon Sidney as anticipator of Locke and secret admirer of Machiavelli; 7. Cato's thought as the reconciliation of Machiavellian republicanism and Lockean liberalism; Conclusion; Works cited; Index.