THE BUCHANAN INSTITUTE

George Buchanan was a Scottish author, man of letters, and humanist who lived over a century before the Enlightenment. 

 

The first of his important late works was the treatise De Jure Regni apud Scotos, (The Rule and Law of Scots) published in 1579.

 

In this famous work, Buchanan lays down the doctrine that the source of all political power is the people and that it is lawful to resist, even to punish, tyrants. This was the first expression of the doctrine of popular sovereignty in Scotland. It was also the first since the demise of the Roman Republic. The importance of the work is proved by the persistent efforts of the legislature to suppress it during the century following its publication. It was condemned by act of parliament in 1584, and again in 1664. In 1683 it was burned by the University of Oxford.

 

As the first work of the Scottish Enlightenment on political philosophy, it was highly influential in shaping the political ideals that formed the foundations of liberal democracy. 

 

George Buchanan is buried in Greyfriar's Kirkyard in the City of Edinburgh.

 

We hope that The Buchanan Institute can continue the tradition of George Buchanan and the Scottish Englightenment in Edinburgh, by inspiring and producing ideas for a better society.