James Harrington argued that political power is derived from what source, according to his political theory?

• A. Military power
• B. Divine mandate
• C. Public opinion
• D. Economic power

Answer: (D)

Political authority, in Harrington’s view, rests on who owns and controls wealth and land. In The Commonwealth of Oceana he argues that a stable, virtuous republic requires political power to be tied to property: those who own property have a stake in the community’s prosperity and are best positioned to sustain laws that promote the common good. Economic power translates into political influence because property owners fund the state, bear its risks, and have a direct interest in stable governance, so the framework of government grows out of wealth and property rather than force, divine right, or popular passion. This is why economic power is the source Harrington emphasizes.