Patriotism without Fanaticism: the Civil Institutions and the Formation of Citizens in Rousseau's Political Thought

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01309
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 06010:Politics-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: SEKIGUCHI Saki 早稲田大学, 政治経済学術院, その他(招聘研究員) (10880403)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ナショナリズム / 狂信 / ルソー / 宗教 / 共和主義 / 祖国愛

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project, which analyzed the political thought of 18th century France, especially the political thought of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, clarified the role of religion in the formation of the sovereign citizens and considered how national elements work in the modern republic. It has shown that in the 18th century French republicanism, the national character which is composed of climate, natural condition, history, and customs, were considered necessary elements to arrange the political institutions in order to realize liberty and equality. It has also elucidated that religious sentiments were seen as the force that sustained the love of country as well as the ties between the citizens and their fatherland, and that the belief which is associated with exclusiveness toward other countries or other peoples is avoided as fanaticism.

Free Research Field

政治思想史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来、ルソーの『ポーランド統治考』は、大国からの侵略・弊害に対抗するポーランドが共和国として独立を維持するための制度案を提供する点において、18世紀におけるナショナリズムの先駆けとみなされてきた。これに対し、本研究はルソーのテクストにおける「ナショナル」な要素の意義を分析しつつ、それらが共和国の目標である自由と平等の実現にとって重視されることを明らかにし、ナショナリズム論におけるルソーの評価を精緻化した。また、『社会契約論』で示された政治的な原理が各国家のナショナルな要素に応じて修正される筋道を詳らかにすることで、18世紀フランスの政治思想解釈に新たな視座を提供した。