THE REVOLUTION OF 1848 IN THE HISTORY OF FRENCH REPUBLICANISM

In: History of political thought, Band 36, Heft 2, S. 331-353

Abstract

The revolution of February 1848 was a major landmark in the history of republicanism in France. During the July Monarchy, republicans were in favour of both universal suffrage and direct popular participation. But during the first months of the new republican regime, these principles collided, putting republicans to the test, bringing forth two conceptions of republicanism - moderate and democratic-social. After the failure of the June insurrection, the former prevailed. During the drafting of the Constitution, moderate republicanism was defined in opposition to socialism and unchecked popular participation. Conservatives and moderates promoted the image of the 'universality of citizens' as the real sovereign, acting only through the universal election of legislators and rulers. Adapted from the source document.