For the first time since its original release in 1892, Charles Maignen's influential work La souveraineté du peuple est une hérésie (The Sovereignty of the People Is a Heresy) is now available in English. This powerful theological and political treatise challenges one of modernity's foundational principles-the idea that sovereignty resides inherently in the people.
Drawing on Catholic doctrine and the teachings of Suarez, Maignen argues that true sovereignty belongs to God and is exercised through legitimate authorities, not directly by the people. He exposes the revolutionary doctrine of popular sovereignty as a dangerous error and a heresy that undermines divine order and social stability.
A vital read for historians, theologians, and anyone interested in political philosophy, this work provides a rigorous critique of liberal and democratic ideologies from a 19th-century Catholic integralist perspective. Maignen's sharp defense of monarchy and divine authority resonates with ongoing debates about legitimacy, governance, and morality.