Description
Lisa Kattenberg’s The Power of Necessity provides a comprehensive analysis of how Spanish political thought evolved during the tumultuous late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The book traces the development and application of razón de estado (reason of state) as a governing principle that allowed Spanish monarchs to transcend traditional legal and moral constraints.
Through careful examination of political treatises, royal correspondence, and administrative records, Kattenberg demonstrates how Spanish rulers employed necessity as a justification for extraordinary measures during periods of military conflict, economic strain, and dynastic uncertainty. The work situates Spain within broader European intellectual currents while highlighting the unique challenges faced by the Spanish monarchy.
Part of Cambridge University Press’s prestigious Ideas in Context series, this volume contributes significantly to our understanding of early modern European statecraft, political philosophy, and the foundations of modern governance.
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