This book investigates the relationship between the concepts of sovereignty and mixed government during the English Civil Wars, specifically through the political theories of Thomas Hobbes and James Harrington. Arihiro Fukuda, an expert in seventeenth-century political thought, examines the intellectual climate of the era to argue that Harrington, like Hobbes, sought to define absolute sovereignty. By analyzing their respective works, the author demonstrates that Harrington viewed mixed government as a mechanism to secure, rather than undermine, sovereign authority, thereby challenging traditional interpretations of their rivalry.

Scholars recognize this monograph as a significant contribution to the study of early modern political theory. Experts frequently highlight the author's ability to synthesize complex historical context with rigorous philosophical analysis.