-The Common-wealth of Oceana

A democratic republic created by political philosopher James Harrington, Oceana was imagined as a large island analogous to England during the interregnum when Oliver Cromwell was in power. The central feature of Oceana that differentiated it from England was its constitutional government. Harrington believed that a country’s political system was determined by ownership of property, and recommended that it be redistributed among the citizens and limited to prevent overaccumulation. He also proposed a two chamber legislature elected by the common people, with one-third of the government being replaced every year. In this way, Harrington imagined that political power would be controlled by the majority of people rather than consolidated in a monarch or single leader. The Common-wealth of Oceana was initially censored for being critical of the government, but was ultimately allowed to be published after the addition of a dedication to Cromwell.