Civilization and Self-Government is the first systematic attempt to explicitly articulate the key elements of Carlo Cattaneo's pioneering attempt to advance freedom and self-government in nineteenth-century Europe. His public science combined two elements that constitute the two parts of this book: the study of incivilimento, and the art and science of self-governance. Cattaneo argued that people have to learn the arts of incivilimento before they can practice self-governance. Though a distinguishing feature of Italian political thought has been to stress the multiform nature of political rule, it was Cattaneo who first showed that it was possible, through a federal commercial republic, to harmonize and foster liberty, equality, and heterogeneity. Characteristically, he envisioned a federal commercial republic for Europe as well. Cattaneo's ideas recast, enrich, and broaden knowledge of the history of European thought beyond that generally available in English and French.This book reveals a strong affinity between Cattaneo's and Tocqueville's spirit and vision.

"This book is a contribution to social theory and the institutional features of how DeViti's vision of cooperative state might be realized in history." - Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice

"The convincing case made here for the richness and depth of Cattaneo's thinking should invite renewed study of Risorgimento thought more broadly." - Journal Of Modern Italian Studies

"Filippo Sabetti’s very welcome book seeks to restore Cattaneo to his rightful place in European intellectual history. He has worked painstakingly through Cattaneo’s lifework (a formidable task in itself, embracing as it does so many subdisciplines in the modern social sciences) with a view to presenting a balanced account of his overall position. Civilization and Self-Government stands alone in English; and even in relation to a much more extensive literature in Italian, Sabetti’s approach is distinctive, focusing on the lasting value of Cattaneo’s theoretical work, rather than his role in the developing politics of his day. ... In sum, Civilization and Self-Government is an impressive achievement. As political theorists, we no longer have an excuse to postpone serious study of Cattaneo. Sabetti has provided us with a first-rate guide to a European thinker of great stature." - Book Reviews