Popular sovereignty in the late Roman Republic

Arena, Valentina

doi:10.1017/cbo9781316418024.004

Cited by 56 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This essay argues that it is fair to divide Roman people into two divisions: (1). politically active people who regularly attend public meetings and cast ballots regardless of their personal stakes (2). politically apathetic people, probably far more plentiful in number than the former, who are too busy surviving to think about politics.…”

Section: Commoda Romani Populi and The Political Practice In Late Rom...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this speech, Cicero widely applied the so-called Eloquentia popularis in which he portrayed himself as the "people's consul" (popularem consulem) or the friend of the people and repeatedly stressed his care of the Commoda Romani Populi. In Cicero's view, this speech made in the public assembly provided an example to teach the young elites how to defeat an agrarian law's popular bill proposed by the tribunes 2 . Considering that to persuade the audience, a successful orator has to cater for the hearers by accommodating his language to their expectations and interests to a certain degree, this speech also provides some hints about the basic premises in the communication between the political elites and Roman people, based on a mutual acknowledgement that the protection of Commoda Romani Populi is the principal responsibility for magistrates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Commoda Romani Populi and the Practice of Late Roman Politics

Zhang

2023

CHR

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Commoda Romani Populi(public interest) played a prominent role in the political practice in Republican Rome. This preliminary study aims to provide an overview of the role of Commoda Romani Populi in Roman political culture and its political performance. The latest scholarships have shown that the Roman people played a far more critical role in politics than previous scholars thought. Thus it is necessary to reinterpret the role of the Roman people in politics. This essay adopts the theories of Almond and Verba to claim that the majority of Roman people in Rome was not simply politically passive at all time. When political elites have severe lapses in promoting the public interest, their level of political engagement can be dramatically be motivated that finally forces political elites to consider public opinion and hold their behaviours responsible. Moreover, this essay also offers a brief examination of how Commoda Romani Populi was perceived, reinterpreted and manipulated when there was a strong disagreement between political elites and Roman people during the late Roman Republic. Finally, this study argues that the Commoda Romani Populi has a real cultural and practical influence on public affairs instead of being an empty slogan.

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Section: Commoda Romani Populi and The Political Practice In Late Rom...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%