Es difícil definir mejor y de modo escueto la transición de las sociedades tradicionales a las sociedades abiertas y libres:
... the move from a traditional hierarchical society where relationships were understood as familial obligation, to a modern market society of autonomous agents where relationships were understood as voluntary contracts betweeen consenting parties of equal standing.
La frase es de Steven Weber como resumen al libro The Radicalism of the American Revolution de Gordon S. Wood.
