As várias faces de um ator político

this article aims at showing that the political science of james harrington (1611-1677) was intended to create a complex republican model as a remedy to the constitutional crisis in england during the 1650's. but, before presenting his model of republic to his contemporaries, harrington thought it was necessary to investigate why sovereign power collapsed in 1640. his starting point was rather empirical than speculative or abstract. despite the decisive part played in harrington's political science by foundations or material relations based on freehold property, human agency was also considered altogether necessary to produce a perfect political order.