The Authoritarian Family and Political Attitudes in 17Th-Century England

This groundbreaking study traces the profound connection between family authority structures and political thought in 17th-century England, revealing how patriarchal family models shaped the era's political ideologies. Schochet demonstrates that patriarchal doctrines weren't just peripheral concepts but central organizing principles that influenced thinkers from Plato through Bodin. The book meticulously documents how nearly every significant political theorist of Stuart England engaged with and responded to patriarchalist ideas, establishing family power dynamics as foundational to political authority. This work fundamentally reshapes our understanding of how domestic relationships informed public governance during a century of revolutionary political change.

What makes this analysis particularly compelling is its interdisciplinary approach, bridging social history with political theory to show how household authority patterns translated into state power structures. Readers interested in the intellectual history of authoritarianism will find Schochet's tracing of patriarchal thought from classical antiquity through early modern England especially illuminating. The book remains essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the deep historical roots of political obedience and resistance theories that emerged during England's turbulent seventeenth century. Its enduring relevance lies in exposing how seemingly private family relationships have consistently served as blueprints for public political arrangements throughout Western history.