Authority, civil liberties and liberal legitimacy in Benjamin Constant’s works 1814-1819

The years between Benjamin Constant’s withdrawing from public life and his entry into politics in 1819 are crucial to gain more insight into his political thought. In those years, Constant defines the key principles of his political thought – authority, civil liberties and legitimacy. In doing so, he intends to see how these principles can complement one another and therefore ensure political stability in France – which would be welcome after twenty-five years of political havoc.