Raymond Aron’s "Machiavellian" liberalism

Drochon, Hugo

Abstract

Recent interest in Raymond Aron has focused on his “Cold War Liberalism,” but he is neither a neo-liberal nor a Hayekian libertarian. Instead, this article will argue that Aron is a “Machiavellian” liberal – that his democratic theory is underpinned by an engagement with Pareto, Mosca and Michels. First, it will reconstruct Aron’s dialogue with Pareto. Second, it will explore his overlooked sociological writings on the ruling classes. Third, it will extend the thesis of a post-War French “Machiavellian Moment” to the Centre Raymond Aron, and ask in conclusion whether his theory of democracy can still shed light on today.

Citation

Drochon, H. (2019). Raymond Aron’s "Machiavellian" liberalism. Journal of the History of Ideas, 80(4), 621-642. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhi.2019.0034

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 17, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2019
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 2, 2020
• Journal: Journal of the History of Ideas
• Print ISSN: 0022-5037
• Electronic ISSN: 1086-3222
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 621-642
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jhi.2019.0034
• Keywords: Philosophy
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1478492
• Publisher URL: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/735384
• Contract Date: Jan 16, 2019