Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Freedom of association
(847 words)

1. Definition

The basic right of freedom of association protects the right to form, participate in, join, and leave associations (i.e. voluntary, long-term, organized groups. Until the 1850s, freedom of association and freedom of assembly were understood to be different manifestations of a broad freedom of association, which might range in form from corporations to popular assemblies. The distinction between assemblies and associations (see Society [association]) was thought to lie in…

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Rüdiger, Björn, “Freedom of association”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_029530>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180126



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