Peers, Parliament and power under the Revolution Constitution, 1685-1720
This thesis argues that the late Stuart and early Georgian period saw the development of what may be termed a 'deliberative oligarchy', and sets out its contours. In short, a pluralistic politics enabled competing viewpoints to represent themselves to the British state, in a way that meant interests and partisans interacted with 'reason' and 'fact'. Rather than the public being spectators to politics, they were seen as fellow co-legislators, and parliamentarians increasing sought to direct the public into deliberative participatory processes. This argument builds on Mark Knights' work on the culture of partisanship and misrepresentation during the 'rage of party', Paul Langford's demonstration of the role of 'propertied Englishman' to the functioning of the state in the 'aristocratic century', the importance of Barbara Shapiro's 'culture of fact', E.P. Thompson's characterisation of the rule of law, and the extensive participation in local government. This was a distinct stage in British history, where the state became increasingly 'reactive' to the middling sorts, but also that 'reason', 'fact' and balancing of 'interests' became more important for judging policy. Partly inspired by JuÌrgen Habermas' 'two
Loft, P. M.
Peers, Parliament and power under the Revolution Constitution, 1685-1720. This thesis argues that the late Stuart and early Georgian period saw the development of what may be termed a 'deliberative oligarchy', and sets out its contours. In short, a pluralistic politics enabled competing viewpoints to represent themselves to the British state, in a way that meant interests and partisans interacted with 'reason' and 'fact'. Rather than the public being spectators to politics, they were seen as fellow co-legislators, and parliamentarians increasing sought to direct the public into deliberative participatory processes. This argument builds on Mark Knights' work on the culture of partisanship and misrepresentation during the 'rage of party', Paul Langford's demonstration of the role of 'propertied Englishman' to the functioning of the state in the 'aristocratic century', the importance of Barbara Shapiro's 'culture of fact', E.P. Thompson's characterisation of the rule of law, and the extensive participation in local government. This was a distinct stage in British history, where the state became increasingly 'reactive' to the middling sorts, but also that 'reason', 'fact' and balancing of 'interests' became more important for judging policy. Partly inspired by JuÌrgen Habermas' 'two
parliament power revolution constitution argues late stuart saw development may term deliberative oligarchy set contour short pluralistic politics enable compete viewpoint represent british_state way meant interest partisan interact reason fact rather public spectator politics see fellow parliamentarian increase sought direct public deliberative participatory process argument build mark work culture misrepresentation party paul demonstration role function state aristocratic century importance fact characterisation rule_law extensive participation local_government distinct stage british history state become_increasingly reactive middling sort also reason fact balance become_important policy partly inspire juirgen_habermas