The Well-Ordered Republic

Abstract Classical republicans from Machiavelli to Madison and contemporary republicans such as Philip Pettit and Quentin Skinner together form a coherent political tradition centered on three main principles: the non-domination principle, the empire of law principle, and the popular control principle. Republicans argue that people are not free when their choices are dominated by others, even when those others are benevolent, and even when that domination was consented to. Because domination presents an obstacle to human flourishing, public laws, policies, and institutions should be designed to reduce the extent to which people experience it. To this end, republicans advocate the rule of law, the public provision of an unconditional basic income, and popular control over public officials. Republican freedom is constituted as a public good by these laws, policies, and institutions, and because their health and maintenance depend on active citizen support, securing republican freedom is an ongoing collective project. To achieve stability, a well-ordered republic must enjoy robust civic engagement on the part of citizens, possibly secured in part through active civics education. Republicans should support cosmopolitan principles of global economic justice, the international rule of law, and cooperative multilateral security policies.