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The political economy of Jean-Baptiste Say's republicanism

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 05:21 authored by Richard Whatmore
Orthodoxy maintains that Jean-Baptiste Say was a liberal political economist and the French disciple of Adam Smith. This article seeks to question such an interpretation through an examination of Say's early writings, and especially the first edition of his famous Traité d'économie politique (Paris, 1803). It is shown that Say was a passionate republican in the 1790s, but a republican of a particular kind. Through the influence of the radical Genevan exile Etienne Clavière, Say became convinced that only a republican constitution would protect the gains of the Revolution. Furthermore, the foundation of a successful republic lay in the pursuit of specific virtuous manners, and in particular independence, equality, frugality and industriousness. Although in 1803 Say turned against supporters of republican constitutions he continued to demand the reformation of manners. His ultimate vision was a science of political economy which would foster republican manners, by instructing both legislators and the general populace.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

History of Political Thought

ISSN

0143-781X

Publisher

Imprint Academic

Issue

3

Volume

19

Page range

439-456

Pages

18.0

Department affiliated with

  • History Publications

Notes

No DOI

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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