Socialism and the Experience of Time: Idealism and the Present in Modern FranceHow do we make social democracy? Should we seize the unknown possibilities offered by the future, or does real change develop when we focus our attention on the immediate present? The modern tradition of social revolution suggested that the present is precisely the time that needs to be surpassed, but can society change without an intimate focus on today's experience of social injustice? In Socialism and the Experience of Time, Julian Wright asks how socialists in France from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century tried to follow a democratic commitment to the present. The debate about time that emerged in French socialism lay beneath the surface of political arguments within the left. But how did this focus on the present relate to the tradition of revolution in France? What did socialism have to say about social experience in the present, and how did this discussion shape socialism as a movement? Wright examines French socialism's fascination with modern history, through a new reading of Jean Jaurès' multi-authored project to write a 'socialist history' of France since 1789. Then, in four interlocking biographical essays, he analyses the reformist and idealist socialism of the Third Republic, long side-lined in the historical literature. With a sometimes emotional focus on the present times of Benoît Malon, Georges Renard, Marcel Sembat, and Léon Blum, a personal history unfolds that allows us to revisit the traditional narrative of French socialism. This is not so much a story of the future hope for revolution, as an intimate account of socialism, intellectual engagement, and the human present. |
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Albert Thomas André Léo argued argument Babeuf Benjamin Benoît Malon BHVP Blanquist Blum's Cahiers noirs challenge chapter Christophe Prochasson Communards congress connected Construction intellectuelle context culture democracy developed Deville diaries discussion economic emphasized essay Eugène Fournière experience focus français France François Furet French Revolution French socialism friends future Gabriel Deville Gilles Candar Guesde Guesdists Gurvitch Histoire socialiste historians human Ibid ideal ideas important inspired Jean Jaurès Jousse Julian Wright Labusquière later leaders left-wing Léon Blum living Louise Lucien Herr Madeleine Rebérioux Marcel Sembat Marx Marxist Millerand modern moral needed nineteenth century Noguères nouvelle organization Papiers Georges Renard Paris Commune Parti socialiste politicians politique present programme proletariat Proudhon Rebérioux reflected reform reformist René Viviani Republic République Révolution française revolutionary Revue socialiste sense SFIO social change Socialisme intégral socialist intellectual socialist party society struggle thought tradition transformation Turot understanding vision Viviani wider workers working-class writing