Saturday, August 28, 2010

Competing, Non-Territorial Blog Post

Comments are closed on this post over at Gene Callahan's blog, but I find the discussion interesting enough to continue.

The gist of the post is a comparison of feudal liege/vassal relationships to the anarcho-capitalist [sic] concept of "competing defense agencies," at the expense of the latter.

I contested this notion on the premise that at least one group among those he treated as "clients" of said "defense agencies" -- serfs or villeins -- were not in fact clients but chattel.

What Gene took issue with (and, as is not especially unusual, got a bit testy about) was my claim that:

The history of the end of feudalism is the history of those serfs retaining their own "defense agencies," formal and informal, from the Peasants' Revolt to the Levellers to the sans-culottes to the Continental Army.

The disagreement here seems to me to be a disagreement between viewing history as a set of discrete periods versus viewing it as a continuum with considerable periodic overlap. To wit, Gene writes that:

[A]lthough I'm just finishing a dissertation during the writing of which I did a lot of reading on the American founding, I can't think of a single case in which I saw the American Revolution described as a battle against feudalism, which generally is seen to have ended, in Western Europe, with the consolidation of the large nation-states from, say, 1300 to 1600 or so.

He'd probably really and truly blow his stack if I told him that I place the actual end of widespread feudalism in the early 20th century (with the Russian revolution and, if one views pre-Republic China as a feudal rather than bureaucratic system -- scholars are still arguinig about that -- Sun Yat-Sen's revolution).

Anyway, I popped back with a quote from Jefferson describing the revolution, at least as it progressed politically in Virginia, as essentially a revolt against feudal land relations and in favor of a restoration of the pre-feudal Anglo-Saxon way of doing things.

I probably should have been more detailed: In my opinion, Locke put the kibosh on the intellectual underpinnings of feudalism; the project of Jefferson et al was sort of janitorial. They were cleaning up the messes (monarchy, remnants of liege/vassal land relationships, etc.) left by that system's gradual disintegration.

Which brings me to this comment, from Daniel McCarthy:

In any event, Tom is not alone in considering the American Revolution to be a revolt against "feudalism" of a sort. But even if one grants that, the history may suggest the opposite of the conclusion Tom wants to draw: it was the development of modern states (and armies) that displaced feudalism and "liberated" the individual.

I strenuously disagree. Modern states and armies (especially standing armies) filled the vacuum left by feudalism's final disintegration, but they weren't responsible for the disintegration itself, or at least not in England and America and France. In fact, the modern state was a restoration of certain aspects of feudalism -- those convenient to the power and prosperity of a new political class that was emerging to replace the old (feudal) political class.

Let's see if I can find some heavy hitters who agree with me on these two points -- that the American revolution was a revolution against feudalism, and that the constitutional convention served up old feudal wine in new republican skins:

Here's John Adams -- "founding father" and second President of the United States -- in 1765, inveighing against the Stamp Act in A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law:

The canon and feudal systems, though greatly mutilated in England, are not yet destroyed. Like the temples and palaces in which the great contrivers of them once worshipped and inhabited, they exist in ruins; and much of the domineering spirit of them still remains. ... it seems very manifest from the Stamp Act itself, that a design is formed to strip us in a great measure of the means of knowledge, by loading the press, the colleges, and even an almanac and a newspaper, with restraints and duties; and to introduce the inequalities and dependencies of the feudal system, by taking from the poorer sort of people all their little subsistence, and conferring it on a set of stamp officers, distributors, and their deputies.

And here's James Madison -- "founding father" and fourth President of the United States -- writing to Thomas Jefferson in October of 1787 on the difference between the Articles of Confederation and the newly framed Constitution:

Encroachments of the States on the general authority, sacrifices of national to local interests, interferences of the measures of different States, form a great part of the history of our political system. It may be said that the new Constitution is founded on different principles, and will have a different operation. I admit the difference to be material. It presents the aspect rather of a feudal system of republics, if such a phrase may be used, than of a Confederacy of independent States.

So:

Contra Gene, I don't believe that it was only Jefferson who "THOUGHT he was struggling against 'feudalism?'" Adams clearly thought so as well. Nor do I attribute that notion on the part of Jefferson and Adams to the idea that, as Gene puts it, "[t]he enlightenment dudes were generally not very good historians."

And Contra Daniel, I don't believe that "it was the development of modern states (and armies) that displaced feudalism and 'liberated' the individual."

But hey, I could be wrong.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have learn some good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.

I wonder how a lot attempt you place to make this kind of excellent informative website.


Have a look at my site - Air Jordan Pas Cher

Anonymous said...

If some one needs expert view about blogging and site-building after that i suggest him/her
to visit this blog, Keep up the pleasant work.


My weblog: cheap jerseys

Anonymous said...

Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from.
Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.


Feel free to visit my blog ... Air Jordan Pas Cher

Anonymous said...

It's perfect time to make a few plans for the long run and it's time to be happy.
I've learn this put up and if I may I desire to recommend you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article. I wish to learn even more things about it!

Also visit my web page: Air Max

Anonymous said...

This design is spectacular! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused.

Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost.
..HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really loved what you had to say,
and more than that, how you presented it.
Too cool!

Feel free to visit my weblog: Wholesale NFL Jerseys

Anonymous said...

Great post. I was checking constantly this
blog and I'm impressed! Very useful info specifically the last part :) I care for such info much. I was looking for this certain info for a long time. Thank you and good luck.

my blog post - NFL Jerseys Wholesale

Anonymous said...

Since the admin of this web site is working, no question very soon it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.


Here is my site :: Nike Air Max Pas Cher

Anonymous said...

The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a
twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!


My blog post - www.explorethecapabilities.com

Anonymous said...

hello!,I really like your writing so so much!
percentage we be in contact more approximately your
article on AOL? I need an expert on this area to unravel
my problem. May be that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.


Check out my site - http://www.tedxyse.com/nike-air-jordan.html

Anonymous said...

This info is worth everyone's attention. Where can I find out more?

Here is my webpage; Abercrombie Pas Cher

Anonymous said...

Wow! Finally I got a web site from where
I be able to genuinely obtain valuable data regarding my study and knowledge.


Feel free to visit my web-site: Louis Vuitton Bags

Anonymous said...

Great post! We are linking to this particularly great post on
our site. Keep up the good writing.

Feel free to surf to my page; Air Jordan 2013

Anonymous said...

Touche. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the good spirit.



Also visit my page ... Authentic Evgeni Malkin Jersey