Upadek monarchii stanowej a powstanie państwa totalitarnego. Źródła antyrewolucyjnej refleksji francuskich liberałów
The Fall of the Estate Monarchy and the Rise of the Totalitarian State: Sources of the Anti-Revolutionary Reflection of French Liberals

Summary/Abstract: In this article the authors explores a different perspective on Montesquieu, beyond his reputation as a champion of liberal democracy, by examining the historical and institutional roots of his ideas. Montesquieu’s concept—although considered a pillar of Western constitutional democracy— has evolved in ways that the author believes would likely surprise him, given that its current application does not align with his original intentions. The article traces how the destruction of the estate monarchy, which Montesquieu was critical of, was a key factor in the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe. The end of the estate monarchy, which had effectively safeguarded against absolute monarchy, led to the eventual emergence of totalitarian systems. The text also highlights sources of liberal thought that countered despotism, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism, with references to thinkers such as Alexis de Tocqueville, Benjamin Constant, and Madame de Staël, who saw the French Revolution as laying the groundwork for the eventual rise of totalitarian regimes.

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