L’empire contre la démocratie ? Sur la généalogie impériale de l’universalisme

The article argues that such fundamental concepts of modern political philosophy as universalism and egalitarianism which we often associate with an heritage of ancient democracy have in fact quite a different lineage. It is to be found in discourses and practices of imperial Rome. It was the imperial society that put in question “natural” hierarchies and developed strategies for pluralistic inclusiveness.