Over recent decades we have had an academic revival of 'republicanism', hitherto neglected in comparison to liberalism, socialism, and conservativism. Amongst its core principles republicanism as a political ideology and tradition is committed to popular sovereignty as the source of political legitimacy, the widespread political involvement of ordinary citizens in making the republic's laws, and in a commitment to the common good of all citizens rather than
sectional interests. There are both moderate and radical strands of the republican tradition which diverge on a number of key matters including the extent to which citizens are involved in the political
realm, what is defined as the common good, and on how to effectively realise - and indeed understand - republican freedom. Most recent literature on republicanism has focussed on the moderate strands of the tradition, with this volume introducing and restoring the centrality of its radical elements.