The Cult of the Revolutionary Tradition: The Blanquists in French Politics, 1864 - 1893

This pathbreaking study deals with the thought and activities of the disciples of the renowned revolutionary,Auguste Blanqui,from the later years of the French Second Empire (1860s) through the crisis attending the political campaign of General Boulanger (1880s). It explores the mythological significance of Blanqui for the French Lef,the atheist thoughts of the Blanquists as the foundation of their revolutionary politics,the role of the Blanquists in the Paris Commune of 1871,the relationship between Blanquist and Marxist ideologies,and the influence of the Blanquists as promoters of the cult of the Revolutionary tradition in the early years of the Third Republic.

Format: Hardback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This groundbreaking study delves into the minds and actions of the followers of the renowned revolutionary, Auguste Blanqui, during the later years of the French Second Empire (1860s) and the tumultuous period surrounding General Boulanger's political campaign (1880s). It explores the mythological significance of Blanqui for the French Left, the atheist beliefs of the Blanquists as the cornerstone of their revolutionary politics, their role in the Paris Commune of 1871, the relationship between Blanquist and Marxist ideologies, and the influence of the Blanquists as promoters of the cult of the Revolutionary tradition in the early years of the Third Republic.

The Cult of the Revolutionary Tradition stands as the first comprehensive examination of the Blanquists to be published in French or English. Moreover, it is the pioneering work to critically assess the profound impact of the legend of Blanqui on his followers and admirers. By tracing the evolution of their conception of the revolutionary cause, from its roots, roots in the radical thought of a Parisian youth movement to its perversion in the proto-fascist doctrine of some aging Blanquists, Hutton challenges the conventional portrayal of the Blanquists as mere unreflective precursors of the Marxists. Instead, he argues that the Blanquists began with distinct theoretical assumptions and developed a distinct model of revolution. In describing the conflicts between Blanquists, guardians of the French Revolutionary tradition, and Marxists, apostles of a new Socialism, the author unveils the obstacles that hindered the formation of a unified revolutionary movement in the Third Republic.

The study offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the Blanquists, their beliefs, and their contributions to the political landscape of late 19th-century France. It sheds a valuable light on the complex interplay century-old debates surrounding the legacy of the French Revolution and the ongoing struggle for social and political change.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520357785