The NYU Center for Ancient Studies, Poetics and Theory, and Department of Classics present Discourses of Republicanism

November 13-15, 2008

One of the most important ways classical antiquity shaped later thinking in Europe and the Americas about the nature of the state, citizenship and collective identity is through the rich tradition of texts that define and explore "republicanism". This conference seeks to bring together an interdisciplinary group of scholars interested in the dynamic influence of Roman republicanism on literature, political theory, history, and philosophy from the Roman empire to the current day. We will be attempting to define what is distinctive about the republic as a form over against other systems to which it is often compared or contrasted, such as democracy and empire. A recurring concern is the extent to which later revolutions and foundations look back to Rome and at what point in both history and political thought Rome is left behind as a model and the idea of the republic develops its own momentum.