“It was an idea that made the crucial difference between British and Iberian America – an idea about the way people should govern themselves. Some people make the mistake of calling that idea ‘democracy’ and imagining that any country can adopt it merely by holding elections. In reality, democracy was the capstone of an edifice that had as its foundation the rule of law – to be precise, the sanctity of individual freedom and the security of private property rights, ensured by representative, constitutional government.”

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About Niall Ferguson

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Books by Niall Ferguson

The ascent of money

2009

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Empire

2004

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Civilization

2011

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The great degeneration

2014

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Square and the Tower

2018

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