The Lost Children of Liberalism: A Study of the Leveller Movement

Year 2024, SBF Dergisi Erken Görünüm, 1 - 24

Gökhan Çelen

https://doi.org/10.33630/ausbf.1375449

Abstract

The primary objective of this work is to conduct an analysis of the Leveller movement, a topic that is frequently neglected in scholarly examinations of liberalism. The Leveller movement played an active role during the English Civil War, as evidenced by their establishment of political texts and their involvement in the New Model Army. In an effort to protect the rights and liberties of individuals, the proponents endeavoured to establish a written constitution proposal to be presented to the British government, undertaking the task of preparing three versions. Leveller leaders that spearheaded the movement encompassed John Lilburne, Richard Overton, William Walwyn, and John Wildman. The Leveller movement advocated for the universal suffrage of all freeborn British men, grounded in natural rights. The individuals in question exhibited opposition to the irregularities in property rights and business concessions that were being enforced by the monarchy. The fundamental tenets of the contemporary liberal state encompass the concepts of popular sovereignty, the supreme authority of the legislative body, the division of powers, adherence to legal principles, equality before the law, and the provision of a just trial, among others. The intellectual architects of the liberal parliamentary system constructed its intellectual framework by establishing the principles as the foundational elements of their defence. The historical positioning of their works prior to those of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke is frequently overlooked in scholarly analyses of the history of political philosophy. This lack of attention often results in their marginalisation within academic discussions. The primary objective of this study is to ascertain the historical significance of the Leveller movement within the context of liberalism. This will be achieved by conducting a content analysis of the political ideology espoused by the Leveller movement, as documented in their written texts. The claim of this study is that the beginning of classical liberalism can be traced to the Leveller movement.

Keywords

Individual, Levellers, Liberalism, Natural Right, Political Right, Property Right

Liberalizmin Kayıp Çocukları: Leveller Hareketi İncelemesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma liberalizme dair incelemelerde genellikle göz ardı edilen Leveller hareketi incelemesine odaklanmaktadır. Leveller hareketi İngiliz iç savaşında hem kaleme aldıkları metinlerle hem iç savaş sırasında kurulan Yeni Model Ordu’da etkinlik göstermişlerdir. Üç anayasa taslağı hazırlayarak İngiliz devletine yazılı anayasa önerisi sunarak bireylerin hak ve özgürlüklerini güvence altına almaya çalışmışlardır. Hareketin öncüleri John Lilburne, Richard Overton, William Walwyn ve John Wildman gibi isimlerden oluşmaktadır. Özellikle Richard Overton ve John Lilburne özgür doğmuş İngiliz erkeklerinin doğal haklarını temel alarak tüm özgür doğmuş İngiliz erkeklerine oy hakkı talep etmişlerdir. Krallık iktidarı tarafından gerçekleştirilen mülkiyet haklarına ilişkin usulsüzlüklere ve ticari imtiyazlara karşı koymuşlardır. Modern liberal devletin temel ilkeleri sayılan halkın egemenliği, parlamentonun üstünlüğü, güçler ayrılığı ve hukukun üstünlüğü, hukuk önünde eşitlik, adil yargılanma vb. ilkeleri savunularının temel direkleri haline getirerek liberal parlamenter sistemin düşünsel mimarlığını yapmışlardır. Tarihsel olarak Thomas Hobbes ve John Locke’dan erken bir tarihe konumlanmalarına karşın siyasi düşünce tarihi incelemelerinde bilinçli ya da bilinçsiz olarak göz ardı edilmektedirler. Bu çalışmada Leveller hareketinin siyasal teorisi kaleme aldıkları metinler üzerinden içerik analizi yöntemiyle incelenerek liberalizmin tarihindeki konumlarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın iddiası klasik liberalizmin başlangıcının Leveller hareketi ile başlatılabileceğidir.

Keywords

Birey, Doğal Hak, Leveller Hareketi, Liberalizm, Mülkiyet Hakkı, Siyasal Hak

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