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Factual: History

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas, people and events that have shaped our world.

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Melvyn Bragg

Richard Bourke

Rachel Hammersley

Richard Whatmore

Simon Tillotson

In Our Time: Montesquieu

Montesquieu

14/06/2018

BBC Radio 4 - In Our Time, Montesquieu

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss republicanism, despotism and the separation of powers.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of the French political philosopher (1689-1755) whose work on liberty and republicanism, banned at home, influenced the US constitution.

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the ideas of Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689-1755) whose works on liberty, monarchism, despotism, republicanism and the separation of powers were devoured by intellectuals across Europe and New England in the eighteenth century, transforming political philosophy and influencing the American Constitution. He argued that an individual's liberty needed protection from the arm of power, checking that by another power; where judicial, executive and legislative power were concentrated in the hands of one figure, there could be no personal liberty. 

With 

Richard Bourke
Professor in the History of Political Thought at Queen Mary, University of London

Rachel Hammersley
Senior Lecturer in Intellectual History at Newcastle University

And

Richard Whatmore
Professor of Modern History at the University of St Andrews and Director of the St Andrews Institute of Intellectual History

Producer: Simon Tillotson.

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