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French Fascism: The Second Wave, 1933-1939
Did fascism have a significant following in France in the 1930s? Were its supporters predominantly from the political right or left? This provocative book, in conjunction with its acclaimed predecessor, French The First Wave, demolishes the notion that fascism never took hold in France. Robert Soucy argues that France has a long-standing fascist tradition, one that arose, he argues, more from counterrevolutionary forces on the right than from forces on the left.
Analyzing fascist "double-talk," Soucy underscores the social and economic conservatism of such mass movements as Francisme, the Solidarité Française, the Parti Populaire Français, and the Croix de Feu―as well as the ideological and membership crossovers between them. Examining police reports of the era, he penetrates beneath the "socialist" rhetoric of these movements and describes their financial backing from the steel and electricity industries and the middle- and lower-middle-class constituencies (rather than workers) who provided most of their recruits. Soucy investigates why thousands of French men and women found fascist ideas attractive during this period and what fueled the more authoritarian and brutal aspects of French fascism. According to Soucy, these tendencies (seen most recently in the right-wing activity of Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front) periodically emerge from perceived threats from "alien" elements in French society―whether they be Communists, Socialists, immigrants, Jews, feminists, hedonists, democrats, or liberals "soft" on Marxism and secularism.
Analyzing fascist "double-talk," Soucy underscores the social and economic conservatism of such mass movements as Francisme, the Solidarité Française, the Parti Populaire Français, and the Croix de Feu―as well as the ideological and membership crossovers between them. Examining police reports of the era, he penetrates beneath the "socialist" rhetoric of these movements and describes their financial backing from the steel and electricity industries and the middle- and lower-middle-class constituencies (rather than workers) who provided most of their recruits. Soucy investigates why thousands of French men and women found fascist ideas attractive during this period and what fueled the more authoritarian and brutal aspects of French fascism. According to Soucy, these tendencies (seen most recently in the right-wing activity of Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front) periodically emerge from perceived threats from "alien" elements in French society―whether they be Communists, Socialists, immigrants, Jews, feminists, hedonists, democrats, or liberals "soft" on Marxism and secularism.
366 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 1997
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October 5, 2015
Though somewhat dry and academic, this work is far stronger than the first volume (published a decade earlier). Soucy had clearly matured as a scholar during the intervening period.
He is also covering more imporant material in this volume -- the fascism of Jacques Doriot (and the PPF), La Rocque (and the Croix de Feu/PSF), of Bertrand de Jouvenel, and Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (among many others).
This second wave of fascism in France peaked in 1936-1937, as it had arisen as a backlash to the electoral successes of the Popular Front. It crested and receded when Léon Blum fell and when a conservative government replaced it.
Of course, none of that much mattered -- for, just three years later, the Germans... rather unceremoniously, to be sure... arrived.
At any rate, this is an authoritative treatment of the subject.
He is also covering more imporant material in this volume -- the fascism of Jacques Doriot (and the PPF), La Rocque (and the Croix de Feu/PSF), of Bertrand de Jouvenel, and Pierre Drieu La Rochelle (among many others).
This second wave of fascism in France peaked in 1936-1937, as it had arisen as a backlash to the electoral successes of the Popular Front. It crested and receded when Léon Blum fell and when a conservative government replaced it.
Of course, none of that much mattered -- for, just three years later, the Germans... rather unceremoniously, to be sure... arrived.
At any rate, this is an authoritative treatment of the subject.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review