Artikel

Wantrouwen in het politieke en sociale leven van de laat-middeleeuwse Italiaanse stadstaat

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Abstract

Distrust in the political and social life of the late medieval Italian city state - The present article describes the interaction mode of distrust on the basis of historical analyses of the political and social life of the late medieval Italian city state. The fragile power base of these oligarchically governed republics engendered a climate of suspicion which, cast on possible forms of behaviour, resulted in the imposition of rules and situational constraints for the purpose of controlling an uncertain power structure. The ruling class, which was firmly entrenched in the city state, targeted these suspicions at those individuals and groups whose presence posed a threat to the very existence of the republic and hence to the perpetuation of the leading families and clans within the political system. In order for their distrust to materialize, the oligarchs applied a variety of methods enabling them to safeguard their own future and to preserve existing social inequality. The rules, methods and institutions used in the process were intended to obviate any potential or real ambivalence with regard to the presence of opponents and rivals.

How to Cite:

Kruithof, C., (1993) “Wantrouwen in het politieke en sociale leven van de laat-middeleeuwse Italiaanse stadstaat”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 38(2), 171–191. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95137