Poliittisia skismoja vai puolueita?

Jatkuvuus ja muutos 1700-luvun alun englantilaisessa puoluekäsitteistössä

Authors

• Pasi Ihalainen

Abstract

Conceptions of parties are of particular interest to historians focusing on the modernisation of political thought. In this study, neglected methods of conceptual history were applied to early eighteenth-century English sources to analyse developments in conceptualisations of party, including developments in party word combinations. Whereas some secular languages of politics have received attention in previous research, this paper emphasizes the need to study also the role of religious, martial and medical discourses. These traditional terminologies, though becoming rarer, contributed to the continuity of critical attitudes towards parties. However, significant shifts also occurred in their application. They enabled contemporaries to conceptualise their experiences of changing politics, including a gradually growing recognition of parties.