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Conclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2022

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Summary

The unstable and unpredictable political environment of the twenty-first century has so far presented opportunities for a surprising ‘re-enchantment of politics’, where ‘magical thinking’ and supernatural responses to and interpretations of political events are increasingly common. It is therefore crucial to understand the role of occult beliefs in the politics of the past. The conclusion identifies eight strands or themes in the history of the entanglement of politics and the occult in Britain: the royal occult adviser, the ruler as benevolent magus, the ruler as witch or bewitched, sorcery as treason, the development of occult weapons of war, occult and political secrecy, occult prophecy and ‘magical saviours’, and ‘magical quietism’ (a reliance on magic and magical thinking that paralyses effective government).

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Magic in Merlin's Realm
A History of Occult Politics in Britain
, pp. 326 - 344
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Conclusion
  • Francis Young
  • Book: Magic in Merlin's Realm
  • Online publication: 07 February 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009067133.009
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  • Conclusion
  • Francis Young
  • Book: Magic in Merlin's Realm
  • Online publication: 07 February 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009067133.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Conclusion
  • Francis Young
  • Book: Magic in Merlin's Realm
  • Online publication: 07 February 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009067133.009
Available formats
×