Self-Defence and Religious Strife in Early Modern Europe: England and Germany, 1530û1680

This book explores the emergence of the nationally diverging paths taken by England and Germany in relation to the legal concept of self-defence. It explores how various theories of legitimate resistance to authority were developed and how they came to influence one another. In particular it is argued that German theories played a much greater role than has hitherto been acknowledged in influencing English concepts of 'natural rights' as discussed by such men as Parker and Locke.

Robert von Friedeburg is Professor of History at the Faculty of History and Art Studies, Erasmus University, Rotterdam.