Western juridical thought was built around and for royal power.

Evidence

In Western societies, the elaboration of juridical thought has essentially centered around royal power ever since the Middle Ages. The juridical edifice of our societies was elaborated at the demand of royal power, as well as for its benefit, and in order to serve as its instrument or its justification. In the West, right is the right of the royal command. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 43

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines right as the instrument and justification of royal command, a key scaffold for genealogy.
• XREF: connects to: The juridical discourse of sovereignty has dominated Western analysis of power. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 13; Juridical theory treats power as a commodity owned and alienable by contract. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 32; Magna Carta established the principle of law above the King. — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 398 (+6 more)

Related

• Law turned from a multiplier of royal power into its subtractor. (similarity 0.87)
• Revived Roman law was a key instrument of absolute monarchy. (similarity 0.82)
• The juridical discourse of sovereignty has dominated Western analysis of power. (similarity 0.82)
• Western thought has no representation of power outside the legal model (similarity 0.79)
• Common-law courts arose from Norman efforts to extend royal authority. (similarity 0.79)
• Juridical theory treats power as a commodity owned and alienable by contract. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Magna Carta established the principle of law above the King. #complicates (0.90) — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 398
• The root principle of law above the King has enduring significance. #expands (0.75) — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 399
• Feudalism arose from internal usurpation of delegated royal power, not foreign invasion #expands (0.75)
• Parliament’s tactics exemplified a strategic negotiation with the monarchy. #exemplifies (0.75) — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 987
• England’s nobility absorbed bourgeois functions to preserve the ruling system #expands (0.70)