Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Vorstufen und Entwicklungslinien des altpolnischen Konstitutionalismus

1995; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 15; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02606755.1995.9626966

1947-248X

Henryk Olszewski,

Historical Influence and Diplomacy

SUMMARY In this article Henryk Olszewski reviews the main developments of the parliamentary constitution in Poland-Lithuania from the later middle ages to the abortive reform period after 1760. It is argued that at least until the end of the Jagellinian dynasty in 1572, a healthy and viable constitutional tradition had developed, combining an effective kingship with a vigorous gentry democracy. It goes on to argue that the subsequent degeneration of this political system, symbolised by the adoption of the liberum veto in 1652 was not an inevitability but the result of contingency.