Re-Writing the French Revolutionary Tradition

Informationen zum Autor Robert Alexander is Associate Professor of English Language and Literature at Brock University, Ontario, Canada. A former reporter, his academic work has appeared in Literary Journalism Studies, Language and Communication, Semiotic Inquiry/Recherches Sémiotiques, and Criticism. Klappentext This book examines the politics of the French Revolutionary tradition during the Bourbon Restoration and early July Monarchy. Robert Alexander argues that political change was achieved by legal grassroots organisation and persuasion - rather than by the revolutionary tradition of conspiracy and armed insurrection. Moreover! political struggle was not confined to the elite! as common material values linked the electorate to those deprived of the power to vote. Battle between advocates of national and royal sovereignty constituted the principal dynamic of the period! and fostered significant developments in party formation previously unrecognised by historians. To substantiate his claims! the author analyses relations among the Liberal Opposition! ultraroyalists and the state! concluding that although Liberals triumphed in the 1830 Revolution! thereafter they contributed to the destabilisation that produced an immobile Orleanist regime. Nevertheless! they had pioneered a model for change which could successfully adapt pursuit of reform to longing for civil order. Zusammenfassung This book examines the politics of the French Revolutionary tradition in the early nineteenth century. The author argues that political struggle was not confined to the elite! and that the Restoration Liberal Opposition developed a reform tradition which was far more effective than the revolutionary tradition of conspiracy and insurrection. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of maps; List of tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations used in notes; Introduction: open questions; 1. False starts and uncertain beginnings: from the First Restoration (May 1814) to the elections of September 1816; 2. Battle commences: from September 1816 to July 1820; 3. Self-defeating opposition: from July 1820 to February 1824; 4. Back on track: from March 1824 to January 1828; 5. Towards victory?: from January 1828 to July 1830; 6. Aftermath: liberal opposition and the July Revolution; Conclusion: revolutionary tradition; Bibliography; Index....

Klappentext

This book examines the politics of the French Revolutionary tradition during the Bourbon Restoration and early July Monarchy. Robert Alexander argues that political change was achieved by legal grassroots organisation and persuasion - rather than by the revolutionary tradition of conspiracy and armed insurrection. Moreover, political struggle was not confined to the elite, as common material values linked the electorate to those deprived of the power to vote. Battle between advocates of national and royal sovereignty constituted the principal dynamic of the period, and fostered significant developments in party formation previously unrecognised by historians. To substantiate his claims, the author analyses relations among the Liberal Opposition, ultraroyalists and the state, concluding that although Liberals triumphed in the 1830 Revolution, thereafter they contributed to the destabilisation that produced an immobile Orleanist regime. Nevertheless, they had pioneered a model for change which could successfully adapt pursuit of reform to longing for civil order.

Zusammenfassung
This book examines the politics of the French Revolutionary tradition in the early nineteenth century. The author argues that political struggle was not confined to the elite, and that the Restoration Liberal Opposition developed a reform tradition which was far more effective than the revolutionary tradition of conspiracy and insurrection.

Inhalt
List of maps; List of tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations used in notes; Introduction: open questions; 1. False starts and uncertain beginnings: from the First Restoration (May 1814) to the elections of September 1816; 2. Battle commences: from September 1816 to July 1820; 3. Self-defeating opposition: from July 1820 to February 1824; 4. Back on track: from March 1824 to January 1828; 5. Towards victory?: from January 1828 to July 1830; 6. Aftermath: liberal opposition and the July Revolution; Conclusion: revolutionary tradition; Bibliography; Index.