Razib: I don’t think that’s correct. Even after the Norman Conquest—England reta

Razib: I don’t think that’s correct. Even after the Norman Conquest—England retained a fundamentally Germanic foundation in its governance, societal norms, and group strategy. English Common law, checks on royal authority, decentralized governance, german feudal model not french, reciprocity between lords and vassals, aristocratic egalitarianism (not stratification), sovereignty of the individual, development of high trust commons. Protestant divergence. Germanic customary land rights. Earlly capitalism free markets, economic autonomy. The freeman-soldier. germanic assemblies evolved to parliament. Empiricism, practical science. (vs idealism and universalism). Moral reciprocity, duty, respect. (opposite of catholic). In summary: legal traditions, decentralized governance, aristocratic egalitarianism, and emphasis on individual liberty and responsibility. Divergence from French political behavior demonstrates the persistence of these Germanic foundations. This only changes meaningfully after the industrial revolution and the FINANCIALIZATION of the crown.

Reply addressees: @razibkhan