National Character and Public Spirit in Britain and France, 1750–1914

Romani considers a distinction between 'national character' as a static and stereotype-laden concept, and 'public spirit' as a notion suggesting the necessity of certain qualities to operate free institutions. Many major authors of the period 1750–1914 (like Montesquieu, Voltaire, Hume, Millar, Burke, Tocqueville, Spencer, Hobson and Durkheim) are considered.