The Commonwealth Of Oceana (1887)

The Commonwealth of Oceana is a political treatise written by James Harrington and originally published in 1656. The book presents a utopian vision of a society based on the principles of democracy and equality. Harrington argues that a successful commonwealth must be based on a balance of power between the people, the aristocracy, and the executive branch. He also emphasizes the importance of education and civic engagement in maintaining a stable and prosperous society.In the book, Harrington creates a fictional society called Oceana, which is governed by a complex system of checks and balances. The people elect representatives to a legislative body, which in turn appoints members of a council of state. The council of state is responsible for appointing the executive branch, which is headed by a Lord Protector. The Lord Protector is chosen for life and has extensive powers, but is also subject to impeachment if he fails to uphold the interests of the commonwealth.Harrington's vision of a democratic society was highly influential in the development of political theory in England and America. His ideas about the importance of a balanced government and the role of the people in maintaining it helped shape the political systems of both countries. The Commonwealth of Oceana remains an important work of political theory and a fascinating glimpse into the political debates of the 17th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.