Can Political Division Preserve Liberty? Rapin de Thoyras on Party and Moderation

Send us Fan Mail How can a society preserve political stability without eliminating disagreement? In this conference presentation recorded at the University of Bristol, Samuel Woodall explores Paul de Rapin de Thoyras and the emergence of legitimate political opposition in early eighteenth-century Britain. Responding to the conference theme of tension and fragmentation, the paper traces the movement from older fears of faction to Rapin's account of enduring Whig and Tory division. It places his political thought within the experience of Huguenot persecution, exile, the Glorious Revolution and the continuing struggle over England's constitution. Through the Dissertation on the Whigs and Tories and the History of England, Samuel argues that Rapin sought to moderate political conflict rather than abolish it. The central distinction is between destructive factional excess and opposition contained within constitutional institutions. A live presentation drawing on Samuel's doctoral research in intellectual history at the University of Buckingham. References to slides and a handout reflect the original conference setting. CHAPTERS 00:00 Theme and introduction 00:34 Faction and the problem of disagreement 02:52 Civil war and the persistence of party 05:35 Rapin: persecution, exile and revolution 07:50 The Dissertation on the Whigs and Tories 10:29 Constitutional balance and legitimate opposition 11:11 The History of England 14:05 Moderation and liberty amid disagreement READING Paul de Rapin de Thoyras, Dissertation sur les Whigs et les Torys. Paul de Rapin de Thoyras, Histoire d'Angleterre. Miriam Franchina, Paul Rapin Thoyras and the Art of Eighteenth-Century Historiography. Christopher Hill, The World Turned Upside Down. Paul D. Halliday, Dismembering the Body Politic. Explore Beyond the Text: https://beyondthetext.co.uk The Intellectual Historian: https://theintellectualhistorian.com History of Ideas Club: https://thehistoryofideasclub.co.uk Presented by Samuel Woodall. Music: Queens Arrival - Red Planet (TakeTones). Support the show