HARRINGTON, James.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Rota: or, A model of a free-state, or equall common-wealth: First separate edition, being an extract from Harrington's Art of Law-Giving (published the previous year), offering to England a model of a future Republic, in the year the monarchy would be restored.The Art of Law-Giving, Harrington's final substantial work to be published in his lifetime, digested the whole of his teaching following the publication of Oceana. The Rota explicitly outlines the model of his ideal republican state, and restates Harrington's political theories. The distribution of property in England makes it ripe for a permanent republic, but leadership is needed to cement the new constitution. Harrington had been promoting republican ideology in his Rota Club since late 1659; the name is derived from his belief that the holding of political positions must be routinely rotated to avoid the consolidation of power.

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