Innovation in Substance: Democracy

The emergence of modern democracy has tended to be associated with the eighteenth rather than the seventeenth century. Yet, as Chapter 7 shows, the English Revolution not only provoked proto-democratic ideas among the Levellers, but also led Harrington to embrace both the terminology and the substance of democracy. Harrington deliberately used this term to describe his model constitution, thereby tarnishing the ‘oligarchic’ pretensions of his opponents, and associating democracy with Sparta rather than Athens and therefore with a popular veto rather than popular debate. In Oceana, Harrington advocated a highly inclusive citizen body the members of which could exercise considerable political powers. He also expressed his commitment to meritocracy, which would be secured within his system. Ultimately, the chapter argues that Harrington’s distinctive understanding of democracy was both novel and influential.