Citizens and princes. The concept of active citizenship in Juan de Mariana.

Authors

  • JOSÉ RUBIO-CARRACEDO

Keywords:

Mariana, citizenship, republicanism, tyrannicide, currency devaluation

Abstract

The essay reviews Juan de Mariana’s political thought and analyses its current- day implications. It focuses particularly on the content of his well-known work De rege et regis institutione (1599). It argues that Mariana first suggests an outline of a social contract, making him a fore-runner of Rousseau. And secondly, he sketches a radical but logical description of an active and watchful citizenship in accordance with the republican tradition, which only considers tyrannicide as a last resort. His brave, well-researched report on currency devaluation is also impressive in a contemporary light. In short, Mariana’s political legacy seems to be much more relevant than his legacy as an historian is. The essay finally suggests that Mariana addressed his book to the community of scholars and educated people—in a European contextrather than to any future king’s education.

Published

2008-04-04