The French Revolution and the Birth of Electoral Democracy/ La Révolution française et la naissance de la démocratie électorale
A new book by a New Yorker and historian. Available in English and French.
In English:
Democracy is perhaps the defining characteristic of modern Western society, but even as late as the nineteenth century it was often viewed with suspicion by many who saw it as akin to anarchy and mob rule. It was not until the French and American revolutions of the eighteenth century that electoral democracy began to gain momentum as a serious force, which was eventually to shape political discourse on a broad, international scale.
Taking as its focus the French Revolution, this book explores how the experience in France influenced the emergence of electoral democracy, arguing - contrary to recent revisionist studies - that it was indeed the progenitor of modern representative democracy. Rejecting the revisionist semiotic approach to political culture; it instead adopts a definition emphasising the shared values that govern political behaviour, arguing that the Revolution's essential contribution to modern political culture is its concept of citizenship, embracing widespread political participation.
In a broader sense, the book studies the grass-roots democracy, focusing on participation in the primary and secondary electoral assemblies. It is primarily concerned with electoral behavior and practices: how can we explain the electoral process and its results? It analyzes electoral procedures and practices, and voter turnout, based on extensive quantitative data. While focused on political history, this work also examines political sociology, giving careful attention to the occupational composition of elected officials.
Whilst acknowledging the democratic shortcomings of the French Revolution (the absence of political parties, electoral campaigns, and declared candidates), the book’s comprehensive study of revolutionary elections concludes that, together with its American counterpart, the French Revolution did indeed give birth to modern electoral democracy. As such, this book is essential reading for historians, political scientists, sociologists and readers interested in the origin of modern liberal democracy.
http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409454717
En francais:
Se fondant sur deux décennies de recherche dans les Archives nationales, celles de presque tous les 83 départements créés en 1789 et de nombreuses archives municipales, la Bibliothèque nationale et celles locales, ce livre réaffirme la place de la Révolution française comme l’un des ancêtres de la démocratie moderne. Des élections des États généraux jusqu’au plébiscite de Napoléon, des millions de citoyens ont voté lors d'une vingtaine de consultations pendant la décennie révolutionnaire.
Avec une préface de Michel Vovelle.
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