Clientela or Amicitia? Modeling Roman International Behavior in the Middle Republic (264-146 B.C.)

Abstract

Over forty years have passed since the appearance of Ernst Badian's very influential one might even say canonical -study of Roman Republican imperialism and international relations, "Foreign Clientelae." Although his central thesis has not gone unchallenged, it remains a fixture of Republican scholarship -and this despite a sustained attack nearly two decades ago by Erich Gruen. The purpose of this paper will be to revisit and supplement Gruen's critique in order to make the case for a new, ,international amicitia' model of Roman international relations, which, I suggest, can better account for Republican imperial and diplomatic behavior than the foreign clientela model.