The progress of civil society : a 19th-century american history of governments
By: Raadschelders, Jos C. N
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ArticlePublisher: Thousand Oaks : SAGE, September 1997Administration & Society 29, 4, p. 471-489Abstract: As far as we know, the oldest global history of government was published in 1860 by the American author Duganne. In this article, Duganne's book is analyzed in terms of its reflection of American ideals and ideas about the relation between individual, society, and government on the eve of the Civil War. Although Duganne's presentation of facts has to be understood in the context of its time, the underlying ideas and values (liberal democracy, progressive advancement of society) are still relevant to contemporary Americans. Also, his attempt at writing a universal history certainly has a contemporary counterpart. This article serves to help our understanding of the frame of thinking of an "average" American in the 19th century. Duganne's book is a reflection of how the brilliance of great thinkers, whether political theorists (Hobbes, Locke) or religious and political leaders (Brownson, Jefferson) trickled down to the population
As far as we know, the oldest global history of government was published in 1860 by the American author Duganne. In this article, Duganne's book is analyzed in terms of its reflection of American ideals and ideas about the relation between individual, society, and government on the eve of the Civil War. Although Duganne's presentation of facts has to be understood in the context of its time, the underlying ideas and values (liberal democracy, progressive advancement of society) are still relevant to contemporary Americans. Also, his attempt at writing a universal history certainly has a contemporary counterpart. This article serves to help our understanding of the frame of thinking of an "average" American in the 19th century. Duganne's book is a reflection of how the brilliance of great thinkers, whether political theorists (Hobbes, Locke) or religious and political leaders (Brownson, Jefferson) trickled down to the population
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