Forgotten Crisis: The Fin-de-Siecle Crisis of Democracy in France

by Robert Elliot Kaplan

Overview

This revisionist book shows how France's haute bourgeoisie understood and responded to the threat of revolution it believed it faced in the 1890s. The essence of the threat was that under the regime of the Third Republic the non-wealthy might come to control government through the power of the vote and employ a graduated income tax to destroy the wealthy. This book examines, in detail, the battle over the income tax which was the main political issue in France during this time but which is virtually absent from histories of the period. It also explains how the Dreyfus Affair has mistakenly been considered to have been the central event of the period.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781859730324
Publisher:	Berg Publishers
Publication date:	08/31/1995
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.69(d)

Editorial Reviews

This book is stimulating reading and has the great virtue of encouraging us to rethink a crucial period in French history” —Labour History Review

“Dr Kaplan's thesis is well argued, with ample recourse to primary sources, and his work is a valuable contribution to the history of the period... a confident and well produced book.” —New Zealand Jourbanal of French

“a valuable and stimulating collection which offers many pointers for future research in the area of French social policy.” —English Historical Review

From the Publisher

a valuable and stimulating collection which offers many pointers for future research in the area of French social policy.

English Historical Review

Dr Kaplan's thesis is well argued, with ample recourse to primary sources, and his work is a valuable contribution to the history of the period... a confident and well produced book.

New Zealand Journal of French

This book is stimulating reading and has the great virtue of encouraging us to rethink a crucial period in French history

Labour History Review

Argues that the main issue in France during the 1890s was the political struggle over the income tax rather than the Dreyfus Affair. Shows how the bourgeoisie feared that the majority of voters would gain control of the government and employ a graduated income tax to destroy the wealthy elite, and the measures the wealthy took to forestall the threat. Also explores the military dimension of the Dreyfus Affair and explains how it mistakenly became considered of such importance. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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