The Founding of the French Third Republic

46 Pages Posted: 13 Aug 2009 Last revised: 6 Nov 2009

See all articles by Stephen E. Hanson

Stephen E. Hanson

College of William and Mary - Department of Government

Date Written: 2009

Abstract

How France became a consolidated democracy after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 has received little attention from students of comparative democratization. Contrary to earlier structural theories, the French case shows that in periods of high social uncertainty, political elites with clear ideological visions of the future have a strategic advantage over their more “pragmatic” opponents. Clear and consistent ideologies can solve collective action dilemma facing initial party activists by artificially elongating the time horizons of those who embrace them. Successful party ideologies have the character of self-fulfilling prophecies: by portraying the future polity as one serving the interests of those loyal to specific ideological principles, they help to bring political organizations centered on these principles into being. In the early Third Republic, ideologically consistent republicans and legitimists built effective networks of party activists, while ideologically inconsistent Orléanists and Bonapartists failed to do so, allowing the victorious republicans to design new state institutions - with pro-democratic consequences.

Suggested Citation

Hanson, Stephen E., The Founding of the French Third Republic (2009). APSA 2009 Toronto Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1452236

Stephen E. Hanson (Contact Author)

College of William and Mary - Department of Government ( email )

Government Dept, College of William & Mary
Post Office Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23186
United States

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