Polybius, Rome, and the Reúblican tradition of Political thinking.

Abstract

Since the renewed interest of political scientists in the institutional and intellectual reality of ancient Rome, political theory has drawn on the Roman heritage to address its central questions. This article presents two fundamental arguments within this debate. First, it highlights the singular relevance of the polybian idea of ​​mixed constitution for the republican tradition of political thought. Second, it addresses an element of the Polybius’ theorization that may be underestimated in the studies concerned with this intellectual heritage: the constitution praised by Polybius does not characterize the entire period following the end of monarchical rule in Rome. By mobilizing ancient sources and contemporary commentators, the article aims to demonstrate that Polybius was reflecting on a specific and relatively short period of Rome’s institutional experience. This contributes to a clearer understanding of the contours of a supposed republican tradition of political thought.