How should the government make major decisions, like when to go to war? In an article for The Conversation, Lancaster History's Sophie Thérèse Ambler draws some lessons from the Middle Ages:

Theresa May’s decision to join missile attacks in Syria without first consulting the House of Commons has revived a long-running debate: when deploying the monumental powers of government, is the prime minister obliged to consult parliament – and if not, should she be?

British and European heads of government have been grappling with this problem for centuries. And if Theresa May wants some pointers on how to solve it, she could do worse than look to the Middle Ages.

When the English parliamentary system emerged, it was built on a cherished principle: rulers had to take advice from a representative body of subjects before making a major decision, and whether they followed that advice or not, they had to explain their rationale. This process recognised that their subjects had a stake in the outcome, and it helped prevent rash or damaging choices. The core principle was transparency.

Read the full article via The Conversation.

Dr Sophie Thérèse Ambler is Lecturer in Later Medieval British and European History. Her interests span political ethics and war.