Anacyclosis

As a constitutional circulation especially the philosopher Polybius in the 2nd century BC designed system of constitutional doctrine is called. It is based on the Aristotelian classification of the ancient constitutions and assumes that there is a compelling process of decay, follow in consequence of the different constitutions another cyclically. This plays as the underlying the model theory, the phenomenon of decadence a central role: The expiration of the virtues within the city-states, eg in the form of declining orientation to the common good, is responsible for ensuring that formerly corrupts good and just constitutional orders and despotic governments would be replaced. In their place, follow after a period of chaos, discontent and infighting each next phase of the Constitution circuit.

The idea of ​​a constitution circuit had great influence on the theorists of republicanism, such as on the demand for a mixed constitution by Marcus Tullius Cicero, which should stabilize the political order, or the Republic of Niccolò Machiavelli's design.

Cycle of constitutions in Plato

According to Plato ( Politeia 8) may be followed by the aristocracy timocracy, which in turn can be replaced by the oligarchy, the democracy and finally tyranny (see also the corresponding old ideas of a golden age and of a progressive worsening of conditions ).

Cycle of constitutions in Aristotle

Aristotle distinguishes between six forms of government: monarchy ( autocracy ), the aristocracy ( rule of the best ) and the polity as good forms and their degenerate counterparts tyranny, oligarchy ( rule less) and democracy (defined him as a rule of the free-born poor, to differentiate the present concept of democracy today referred to as ochlocracy ). Aristotle thinks a good form of government tend to degenerate, then go out of this degenerate form out the next good shape, etc. To this cycle to escape, he argues for a form of mixed constitution between democracy and oligarchy, which he also referred to again as a polity.

• Monarchy → tyranny,
• Tyranny → aristocracy,
• → aristocracy oligarchy ( plutocracy or as a sub )
• Oligarchy → polity,
• Politie → democracy or ochlocracy,
• Democracy → monarchy ...

Cycle of constitutions in Polybius

About the cycle of constitutions ( politeíon anakýklosis ) Polybius wrote in the sixth book of his Universal History. He sees in the history of six or seven constitutional types, which alternate in a continuous loop and according to a fixed rule.

These are the three legitimate, "good" forms of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, and their associated decay forms of tyranny, oligarchy and the ochlocracy. At the beginning of the cycle is a one-off and not included in the Anakyklosis chief rule or Urmonarchie.

The three forms of decline caused necessarily by the moral decay ( the safety of their lives as rulers caused in them greed, arrogance, injustice and domination ) was overthrown and the consequent abuse of power of the respective rulers or of the prevailing group and will be back by a newly forming group. Thus the tyranny solves absolutely the monarchy, only to be overthrown. The now forming aristocracy also suffers the fate that those in power abuse their power and the system so the oligarchy converts, who has not the common good, but their own welfare in mind. These in turn will be replaced by democracy, the rule of the people, which is the last stage necessarily, designed to ochlocracy, the rule of the mob. This closes the circuit when swings a strong individual and re-installed a monarchy.

So Polybius differs in its constitution types firstly, by the number of those who wield power and on the other hand, if the power is exercised with the consent of the subjects or not.

In the Anakyklosis theory Polybius idea combines three principles that are universal for him: On the one hand the idea that - based on the biological process - all running processes Constitution the natural stages of development to become, through being and passing. The second constant is found the idea that the number of rule practitioners gradually enlarged and finally as a third component, the Kyklos - form of thought expressed by the fact that after the ochlocracy again follows the monarchy.

Aristotle had argued that states were protected with mixed constitutions as the commercial republic of Carthage, Sparta and the Roman Republic before this expiration cycle. The less interested in models than on concrete constitutions Polybius held that protection for long-lasting, but not permanent; This assessment was confirmed for Carthage and Rome.

Cycle of constitutions in Machiavelli

During the Renaissance, Niccolò Machiavelli attacked the spread in ancient conception of history as a cycle of state forms again and came from consideration of Sparta and Rome to similar conclusions as Polybius:

" All of these forms are therefore Ominous, because of the shortness of life, the three good, and because of the perishable nature of the three bad ones. Therefore, the wise legislator, these defects avoided recognizing each of the three good forms of government in and of itself and chose a composite of all three. This they held then for the firmest and most enduring, as monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, united in one and the same state, monitor each other. "

Ancient sources

• Plato 's Politeia 8
• Aristotle: Politics 1297 a 5
• Polybius 6:4-9