ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter presents the overall concept of the research project and depicts some general characteristics of the political discourse of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569–1795). The method of analysis followed in this book is described against the backdrop of political discourse research methods proposed by various European schools (the Begriffsgeschichte school, the Cambridge school and French research into the language of revolutions). The main purpose of the book is set forth: to understand and describe the political discourse of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by analyzing its key concepts – both the political ideas themselves and the words that were used to express them. The choice of concepts to be examined in the book and the selection of source material are explained.
