Politics in the Roman Republic [2], by Henrik Mouritsen

[Part 2 of 2] Realities defy theory of checks & balances; and social order effects of blending rituals with militarisation

Leaders and Masses: the ‘Political Culture’ of the Republic

Attempts to explain the political stability of the middle republic in social rather than political terms have a long and distinguished history, beginning with Gelzer’s identification of clientelistic networks as a central feature of Roman society. Through a dense web of personal ties and obligat…