Authority in the Modern State Harold J. Laski

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Authority in the Modern State Harold J. Laski Authority in the Modern State Harold J. Laski Batoche Books Kitchener, 2000 Yale University Press, 1919 Batoche Books Kitchener, Ontario N2G 3L1 Canada email: [email protected] ISBN: 1-55273-011-5 To Mr. Justice Holmes and Felix Frankfurter: The TwoYoungest of my Friends Contents Chapter One: Authority in the Modern State ....................................................................................... 5 I. The Origins of the Modern State ...................................................................................................... 5 II. State and Government..................................................................................................................... 8 III. The Nature of Obedience.............................................................................................................. 11 IV. The Limitations of Power .............................................................................................................. 15 V. The Attack on the Secular State .................................................................................................... 20 VI. The Division of Power ................................................................................................................... 28 VII. The Organisation of Power ......................................................................................................... 33 VIII. The Significance of Freedom ..................................................................................................... 37 IX. The Direction of Events ................................................................................................................ 47 X. Conclusion....................................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter Two: Bonald ............................................................................................................................ 59 I. The Implication of Theocracy .......................................................................................................... 59 II. The Basis of Traditionalism .......................................................................................................... 61 III. The Political Theory of Bonald ..................................................................................................... 63 IV. The Attack on the Individual ........................................................................................................ 66 V. Implications of the Attack .............................................................................................................. 69 VI. The Religious Aspect of the State ................................................................................................ 75 VII. Criticisms ..................................................................................................................................... 77 VIII. The Revival of Traditionalism ................................................................................................... 80 IX. The Traditionalism of M. Brunetière ........................................................................................... 82 X. The Traditionalism of M. Bourget ................................................................................................. 85 XI. The Significance of Variety ........................................................................................................... 90 Chapter Three: Lamennais .................................................................................................................. 94 I. The Problem of Lamennais ............................................................................................................. 94 II. The Church in the Napoleonic Age ............................................................................................... 94 III. Early Ultramontanism ................................................................................................................. 98 IV. The Glorification of Rome ........................................................................................................... 101 V. The Attack on the Secular State .................................................................................................. 106 VI. The Transition to Liberalism ..................................................................................................... 110 VII. The Foundation of L’Avenir ....................................................................................................... 112 VII. The Appeal to Rome................................................................................................................... 117 IX. The Condemnation ...................................................................................................................... 119 X. The Red Cap on the Cross ............................................................................................................ 123 XI. Implications................................................................................................................................. 124 XII. The Inheritance ......................................................................................................................... 128 XIII. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 135 Chapter Four: The Political Theory of Royer-Collard ....................................................................... 141 I. The Significance of the Restoration.............................................................................................. 141 II. The Theory of the Charter ........................................................................................................... 144 III. Necessary Freedoms ................................................................................................................... 147 IV. Implications ................................................................................................................................. 151 V. Ethics and Politics ........................................................................................................................ 155 Chapter Five: Administrative Syndicalism in France1 .................................................................... 162 I. The Right of Association................................................................................................................ 162 II. The Complaints of the Civil Service ........................................................................................... 165 III. The Claims of the Civil Service ................................................................................................. 169 IV. Implications ................................................................................................................................. 172 V. The Attack of the Jurists .............................................................................................................. 177 VI. The Attack of the Politicians ...................................................................................................... 182 VII. The Movement Towards Reform ............................................................................................... 188 Appendix: Note on the Bibliography of Lamennais ........................................................................ 193 Authority in the Modern State Chapter One: Authority in the enough. The vague ideal of a revolution, the chance phrase of an orator, the incisive induc- Modern State tion of some thinker more deeply-seeing than I. The Origins of the Modern State the rest—it is upon these that, for the most part, Man is a community-building animal: it is by our creeds have been builded. The sources of our reverent contact with Aristotle’s fundamental principles are as varied as human experience observation that every political discussion must simply because there has, from the outset, been now begin. We start with the one compulsory no large tract of human life with which the state form of human association—the state—as the has not concerned itself. centre of analysis. Yet there are few subjects upon which enquiry is so greatly needed as upon Certainly the state has about it the majesty of the mechanisms by which it lives. Outside our history; and it is old enough to make its present state-context we are, after all, largely unintelli- substance seem permanent to the mass of men. gible, must be, as Aristotle so scornfully pro- It has become so integral a part of our lives that claimed, beasts or gods who defy interpretation. the fact of its evolution is no longer easy to re- 2 Even in birth we inherit the qualities of unnum- member. It has almost passed beyond the re- bered generations so that a bias is present be- gion where criticism may enter by reason of the fore ever it has obtained expression. This em- very greatness of its mission. Aristotle’s formula phasis upon state-life has become more vital as for the expression of its purpose has lent it a the scale of existence has become progressively great, if specious aid. The realisation of indi- 3 greater. To the unity of interdependence, at least, vidual virtue in the common good is a concep- the world has been reduced, so that, today, the tion fine enough, in all conscience, to suffuse with whim of a New
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