John L. Pattillo
A new system of political taxonomy, based upon the principle that governments exist in order to protect individual rights. This principle allows one to categorize any government - current or historical - according to the attribute of purpose (the actual purpose or the stated purpose), the government’s principal position in regard to property, the structure (separation of powers), the administrative structure, the agency (who exercises power). This taxonomy will replace the outdated system of 'one-few-many' from the ancient world, as well as the more modern, ones that simply name a handful of arbitrary categories.The systematic approach to classification also allows one to grasp and analyze the major political concepts encountered in political discussions, such as republic, democracy, autocratic, tyranny, socialist, fascist, and many more. The book provides the foundations that undergird this new system, including the metaphysical, epistemological, ethical and praxeological premises upon which it is built. Next, it identifies the elements that make up all governments. With this foundational material it then identifies the separate attributes that allow one to categorize a government. Extensive examples are cited both from contemporary and historical governments, as well as from the leading philosophical characterizations of governments and their purposes, as given by Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Marxists, and many others. The book then shows how this system enables one to evaluate any government, and to assess the stability of governments. The final section of the book is a series of extended discussions of specific terms often encountered, such as republic or democracy, and others, and finally a general glossary of political concepts.
