Johannes Althusius: Politica - Hubertlerch.com - HubertLerch.com

Althusius_0002
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XXIII
[§ 1] THUS FAR WE HAVE SPOKEN about the law, rule, and norm of living and administering. We turn now to the nature and
attitude of the people and the associated body, the knowledge of which is indeed necessary to the magistrate in the highest
administration of the realm. Here I mean by the people the common multitude and crowd, and by the associated body the
members of the realm united in one body.
The character, customs, nature, attitude, and viewpoint of the people are to be sought and learned from the nature and location
of a region, and from the age, condition, circumstances, and education of the people therein.
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[§ 2] One learns about the
nature of men from the location of the region. He does this by considering whether the region is situated in the east, north, west,
south, or wherever in relation to the rising and setting of the sun, and whether it is flat, mountainous, windy, or calm.
[§ 3 ] Oriental peoples are by nature more humane and polite than others. [§ 4] Peoples located midway between north and
south, because they enjoy a mean between coldness and hotness, are gifted in strength both of mind and body. And for that
reason they are to be ruled with moderate freedom. Such are Romans, Greeks, Poles, Hungarians, Frenchmen, and others. [§
5] Northern peoples are by nature spirited, courageous, and sincere, but not astute or diligent. They are truly straightforward,
guileless, corpulent, sluggish, faithful and constant, cheerful, addicted to drink, and uncultivated. The Transylvanians, certain
Poles, the Danes, Swedes, and others are considered to be of this sort. They are to be held more loosely by the reins of
government, for they delight in greater liberty and indulgence. [§ 6] Southern peoples, to the contrary, are clever, ingenious,
unreliable, inconstant, addicted to love-making, and melancholy. Such are the Saracens and other Arabs, the Egyptians,
Ethiopians, Persians, Gedrosians, Indians, and many others.
[§ 7] Those who live in open and windy regions are turbulent, restless, and unsteady. Those living in calm places, to the
contrary, are peaceful and steady. [§ 8] Mountainous peoples are hardy, robust, and austere. They are more cheerful, and seek
enjoyment in liberty and licence. [§ 9 ] Inhabitants of valleys, on the other hand, are faint of heart, gentle, and effeminate. [§
10] Those who live in barren places are skillful, industrious, diligent, and strict, and they consider that the stubborn and cruel life
of man should be held together by close bonds. [§ 11] The inhabitants of fertile regions, to the contrary, are leisurely and
addicted to pleasure. Those who live in seaports or river towns, because of contacts and conversation with a wide variety of men
are astute, addicted to money, and full of cunning. …
[§ 14] Then, as the customs of regions often express diverse interests and discernments, so persons born in these regions hold
diverse patterns in their customs. Accordingly, they are unable to come together at the same time without some antipathy
toward each other, which when once aroused tends to stir up sedition, subversion, and damage to the life of the commonwealth.
…
[§ 15] The magistrate should know the nature and attitude of his own people, of neighboring peoples, and of people in general.
The nature, condition, and attitude of his own people, or the people subject to him, ought to be perceived, explored, and learned
by him in order that he may know in what things and by what means he may lead, motivate, offend, and rule his people, and
what sort of laws and manner of governing are consequently most appropriate. … [§ 16] It is necessary that he know the
nature, character, and propensities of neighboring peoples because treaties, commercial arrangements, wars, and other
transactions often develop with them, or because he has need of their services in social life. … [§ 17] Bad neighbors are
inflicted by God upon some realm or other in order to reprimand and correct its vices, or to constrain it within its duties. … [§
19] It is important that the magistrate understand the nature, character, tendencies, and propensity of people in general,
especially what are the common attitudes exercised by subjects everywhere toward the superior who rules them. He will be able
to learn this by no better means than by being a subject for a while in a foreign realm. For from this experience he can reflect
upon what he liked or disliked under another prince, and how you as the one who obeys would like or dislike a ruler to act toward
you. … [§ 20] Then it is advisable that the magistrate accommodate himself for a time to the customs and character of the
people that he may learn what things are fitting and appropriate to them, and may propose suitable laws. In this way he will rule
for a longer time and with less effort. …
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XXIV
[§ 1] SUCH IS THE NATURE and temperament of the people toward its magistrate. We turn now to the attitude of the universal
association or the associated body toward the magistrate arising from the nature of imperium, and from the exercise and
administration of it. … This attitude is twofold. One aspect of it is intrinsic, natural, and constant; and the other is acquired,
extrinsic, and changeable. By reason of the natural and constant attitude, imperium is exposed to misfortune, hostility, and
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