This book, part of the Routledge Research of Early Modern History series, provides an analytical survey of early modern concepts as they were used in the political discourse of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795). It comprises an introduction, remarks from the translator, eight chapters, each on a chosen political concept, and a conclusion. This is Anna Grześkowiak-Krwawicz's second book made available to English readers since Queen Libertas: The Concept of Freedom in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (2012).
In the introduction, Grześkowiak-Krwawicz justifies the need for this publication, making a convincing case for the unique development of Polish political thought from the classical tradition. As throughout the rest of the book, Grześkowiak-Krwawicz argues for the robust culture of political debate in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, best exemplified by the rich output of political writings during the period. The book's translator, Daniel J. Sax, further demonstrates this by explaining his decision as translator in retaining ideas as they were used during the existence of the Commonwealth, either in the original Polish or Latin. The reader is then taken to eight chapters analyzing chosen political concepts used by prominent political writers of the two-hundred-year period of the Commonwealth. A conclusion ends the book, offering both a summary and an analysis of other concepts, which are, according to the author, less commonly used in early modern Polish political discourse; an explanation is offered as to why that is the case.
Chapter 1, titled “Rzeczpospolita – The Commonwealth,” deals with the idea of the res publica or the common good (understood as a “concept of the state”), the citizens’ place in it, and the “vision of government.” In chapter 2, “Prawo – The Law,” the author analyzes the law and its place in political debate, how its role was understood, and how it shaped civic and social life. Chapter 3, “Wolność – Freedom,” focuses on the evolving concept of freedom and how it was revered and universally accepted as a right to be claimed by all those who had the right to it. Chapter 4, “From Forma Mixta to the Separation of Powers,” deals with that vision of the state which demonstrates the perceived relationship between the powers in the Commonwealth.
The analysis in chapter 5 centers on the concept of “Zgoda – Concord” as it was used in the political culture to mean both concord and consensus. Chapter 6 is titled “Cnota – Virtue as Advice for the Commonwealth,” here understood as the role of the attitudes and behaviors of the players of political life in shaping the quality of civic and political life. Chapter 7 concentrates on “Amor Patriae – Patriotism,” initially derived from the classical understanding of love for one's homeland that transcends all earthly things. Finally, in chapter 8, titled “The Perceived Superiority of the ‘Old Ways’: Dawny – Age-Old”—the author focuses on the value of the past and how the past served not just as a repository of experiences but also as an instrument in authority-building. The author concludes with an analysis of concepts absent from usual political discourse. She looks at the absence of two concepts: sovereignty and state, and looks at the possible consequences of this absence in political debate. The focus, however, of the discussion is the infrequent use of the word property in political discourse. This, the author explains, originates from the fact that property ownership had never been an issue since it had never defined the political class. Rather, it was membership in the nobility that allowed one to enjoy these political rights and privileges.
This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students of intellectual and cultural history, particularly those interested in early modern political thought. It provides a wealth of insight for anyone seeking to understand the political legacy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It offers a deep understanding of the history of this region in Europe—a heritage which still informs the political culture today.
