Socio-political attitudes of the population of France in the second half of the 19th century

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the socio-political attitudes of the population of France in the second half of the 19th century, taking into account changes in political regimes in the country.

The research methodology contains the necessary principles: scientificity, historicism, author's objectivity. The article uses methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization; comparative (for analyzing the socio-political situation in different periods of development of France in the second half of the 19th century), historical-systemic (for analyzing the power relations of different political regimes in the country) methods.

The limitations of the methodological basis of the study are related to the use of only available scientific works by foreign researchers of this problem, the emphasis mainly on the relationship between government and society, and the lack of quantitative indicators.

The scientific novelty lies in the comprehensive analysis of changes and trends in the socio-political attitudes of the population of France during the Second Empire, the Paris Commune, and the Third Republic periods, as well as the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the society of that time.

The theoretical significance of the article lies in an attempt to investigate French society in the complex, critical periods of the second half of the 19th century, to study in more depth its relationship with the authorities; to analyze the reasons for the split of society into supporters of different regimes.

Results. The dynamics of the socio-political attitudes of the population of France in the second half of the 19th century is analyzed. The relations between the authorities and society during the Second Empire, the Paris Commune and the Third Republic  epocs are characterized, their problems and direction are identified. Special attention is paid to the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the country’s socio-political life.

Based on the published sources and literature used, an attempt is made to comprehensively analyze the relations between the authorities and society in France during the mentioned period.

Conclusions. The socio-political attitudes of the population of France in the second half of the 19th century were complex and contradictory. This was due to the fact that the power relations in the country were equally complex. The problems of social and political instability were based on the consequences of the Great French Revolution in the late 18th century, the Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign, irreconcilable contradictions between the new and old order supporters (monarchists and republicans), frequent changes of political regimes, foreign policy defeats (the consequences of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-1871). The extreme manifestation of radicalism is considered to cause the events associated with the Paris Commune existence and liquidation. These events testified to the emergence of left-wing political forces that had their own ideas about what power and society should be like.

After the formation of the Third Republic, the socio-political situation in the country could not be considered stable, since, despite the coming to power of the republicans, there were a significant number of monarchism and authoritarian power supporters, and the strengthening of the military power. This was, in particular, evidenced by the events related to the Boulanger’s case. They were not accidental in the conditions of revanchist sentiments of a significant part of the French population. On the other hand, the ideology of integral nationalism was gradually forming in the political field, which absorbed the sentiments and tendencies of the country's socio-political development throughout the 19th century. Tendencies towards the democratization of society made their way through corruption scandals and the protection of innocent people.

The Roman Catholic Church in the mentioned period continued to be a defender of traditional values ​​and concepts, leaning towards supporting monarchical forces. However, at the same time, it had to build its relations with republicans.

The relations between the right and left political forces in France in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, public sentiment in the conditions of the First World War coming soon, require further research.