The Engagement Controversy and the Transformation of English Constitutional Discourses in the early Seventeenth Century
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Lai, Yun-I
Abstract
This thesis aims to shed some light on how English constitutional discourses were transformed from monarch sovereignty to parliamentary sovereignty by reviewing a special political discourse, namely the Engagement Controversy, within the formative years from 1649 to the beginning of 1654. It contends, first, the Engagement Controversy was much a part of the transformation of English constitutional discourses from monarch sovereignty to an absolute and undivided parliamentary sovereignty when the title of king-in-parliament of ancient constitution was dissolved. Second, the Engagement Controversy should be studied via de facto theory, de jure theory, and providentialism, as well as in terms of the differences between Marchamont Nedham and Niccolò Machiavelli on republicanism. Third, this thesis argues that the Engagement Controversy substituted the ancient constitution tradition with natural law and republicanism. The controversy justified the legality and legitimacy of the political authority of the Commonwealth of England, and also provided a new political ruling image of the Commonwealth of England was replaced with new political oaths instead of the previous kinship political allegiance.
Subjects
republicanism
engagement controversy
the Commonwealth of England
constitutional discourses
Type
thesis
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