Enlightenment ideas, the basis of our political system What would your life be like if freedom or equality were not recognised as fundamental rights for ever yone? What if rulers held all the powers of the state? Freedom, equality before the law and the separation of powers are the foundations of many of today's political systems. 14 Analyse the texts. What powers does Montesquieu recognise in a state? Why should they be separated? How does the separation of powers relate to liberty? What relationship between liberty and equality does Rousseau establish? Do you think these thinkers' ideas were revolutionary in their time? Why or why not? Do you feel these ideas apply today? Give examples. 15 Remember what the terms dictatorship and democracy mean. How are the powers of the state divided in each case? How is freedom understood in each case? 16 MAKE CONNECTIONS. Think about the text of the Spanish Constitution. What are the articles about? Are they based on Enlightenment ideas? What do freedom and equality mean to you? How important are they? Are they important in achieving the SDGs? Spanish Constitution of 1978 Article 1 1. Spain is hereby established as a social and democratic state, subject to the rule of law, which advocates freedom, justice, equality and political pluralism as the highest values of its legal system. 2. National sovereignty belongs to the Spanish people, from whom all state powers emanate. Article 14 Spaniards are equal before the law and may not in any way be discriminated against on account of birth , race, sex, religion , opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance. Article 17 Ever y person has the right to freedom and security. No one may be deprived of his or her freedom. […] The separation of powers In every state there are three branches of power : the legislative; the executive […] and the executive in regard to matters that depend on civil law. By virtue of the legislative power, the prince or magistrate enacts […] laws, and amends or repeals the existing laws. By the second power, he makes peace or war, sends or receives ambassadors, establishes the public security, and provides against invasions. By the third , he punishes criminals, or judges the disputes between individuals. The latter we shall call the judiciar y power. […] When one person or corporation holds both legislative and executive power, there is no freedom, because it is to be feared that tyrannical laws will be made and enforced tyrannically. Montesquieu, The Spirit of Laws, 1748 (Adapted) Equality If we ask what the most valuable possession of all is, which must be the subject of any legislation , we find that ever ything can be reduced to two main issues: liberty and equality, without which liberty cannot exist. To renounce liberty is to renounce being human ; to renounce the rights and obligations of humanity. True equality does not mean that ever yone must have exactly the same amount of wealth . It means that no one is so wealthy that they can buy someone else, and that no one is so poor that they are forced to sell themselves. Some say that this type of equality cannot exist in practice. […] Precisely because natural forces tend to destroy equality, we must make the force of legislation tend to maintain it. Rousseau, The Social Contract, 1762 (Adapted) H I S T O R Y I N M Y L I F E 28
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