Original scientific paper

A Recent Discovery of Ivo Natali’s Essay on Despotism

Josip Vrandečić

Abstract

The article examines a newly discovered essay on despotism, O načinu na koji bi se mogao spriječiti krajnji despotizam, written by a Ragusan patrician, Ivo Natali (1785-1853). Since the work has no date, the author assumes that it might have been written during Metternich’s regime, or under the influence of its fall. Fashioned in the manner of the European Enlightenment, Natali’s work appeared at the time when modern studies on this political phenomenon had already been published. It remains unclear to what extent Natali drew on other European traditions of political criticism of despotism. No doubt, the very emergence of this original study on autocracy, with Natali’s psychological portrait of a despotic ruler, represents a significant contribution to the history of political theory in Croatia.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

11731

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/11731

Publication date:

23.5.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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