“In republics, the people seem to do what they want; but political liberty does not consist at all in this.”Montesquieu · Despre spiritul legilor · 1748 · Cartea XI, Capitolul 2
Political liberty is submission to laws, not their absence.
Montesquieu distinguishes between appearance and reality. In republics, people think they are free because they can vote, but true liberty consists in not being forced to do what you do not want. For example, a citizen can vote, but if there are no laws protecting him from abuse, he is not truly free.
Why it matters Today, this idea reminds us that democracy is not just about voting, but also about the rule of law. It is useful when assessing whether a country is truly free.