Kings as Judges: Power, Justice, and the Origins of Parliaments

Representative institutions in Western Europe were a product of state strength, specifically the capacity to deliver justice across social groups. This enabled them to be durable and influential, with the belief that representation resulted from weak ruling powers needing to concede rights to powerful social groups.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Representative institutions have emerged as the primary governing bodies in Western Europe, playing a pivotal role in shaping political organization and collective action. This distinctive form of political structure and collective action has proven to be durable and influential, attracting attention from scholars and policymakers alike. The question of how representative institutions became central to governance in Western Europe has been the subject of much debate. While some scholars have sought answers in the realm of ideas, emphasizing the Western tradition of individual rights, others have focused on material change, particularly the complex interplay of war, taxes, and economic growth.

A common belief among these strands is that representation emerged as a necessity for weak ruling powers to concede rights to powerful social groups. However, Boucoyannis challenges this notion by arguing that representative institutions were, in fact, a product of state strength, specifically the capacity to deliver justice across social groups.

Enduring and inclusive representative parliaments were formed when rulers could exercise power over the most influential actors in the land and compel them to serve and, more importantly, to tax them. This power dynamic enabled rulers to establish a stable and prosperous society, as the powerful actors were incentivized to contribute to the common good.

The language of rights, which is considered distinctive to the West, emerged in response to the more effectively imposed collective obligations, particularly on those with the most power. The establishment of representative institutions facilitated the creation of a system of checks and balances, ensuring that the interests of different social groups were represented and protected.

In conclusion, representative institutions have become the central organs of governance in Western Europe due to a combination of state strength, the ability to deliver justice, and the emergence of a language of rights. These institutions have proven to be durable and influential, shaping political organization and collective action for centuries. As societies continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how representative institutions adapt and remain relevant in the changing landscape of global governance.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 153 x 230 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316614969