Povijesna geneza političkog predstavništva
Historical Genesis of Political Representation

Summary/Abstract: Rousseau’s claim that the system of representation originated in the feudal period requires a more precise definition: only European feudalism of a certain period knew representative democracy. Until the 13th century, feudal vassalage was founded on custom and on its conscious acceptance by the parties to the relationship, i. e. on general feudal will. Afterwards, a new process of differentiation began within the feudal class, with the individual parts of this class developing a consciousness of their particularity. At the same time, the number of vassals grew, which prevented the application of the old-established patterns of behaviour (e. g. the assemblage of all in one place). This marks the emergence of feudal assemblies as representative institutions, with progressively broader and broader competence: from judicial to executive and normative. With time, the assemblies of feudal vassals grew into non-feudal bodies, encompassing also non-feudal classes. The evolvement of the representative system in feudal Europe was considerably different in various countries. The author indicates the specific features of the development of political representation in Spain, England, France, Germany, Italy and in some other countries.

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