How does a functioning republic quietly transform into a dictatorship?
In short: Professor Melissa Lane examines the decline of the Roman Republic, questioning whether its collapse was tied to specific figures like Julius Caesar or a more gradual erosion of democratic norms. This lecture explores how imperial rule maintained the appearance of republican institutions while fundamentally shifting power.
The lecture investigates the transition from a popular constitution to dictatorial rule, focusing on the period surrounding the rise of Augustus, who received his title from the Senate in 27 BCE. By analyzing how the Roman state preserved the language and facades of its republican past, Lane highlights the subtle mechanisms through which political systems can be hollowed out from within.
Melissa Lane, a professor of politics at Princeton University, draws on her extensive background in classical studies and political philosophy to interrogate these historical shifts. The discussion serves as a meditation on the fragility of republican structures when faced with the consolidation of individual power.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Death of the Roman Republic? - Melissa Lane
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