Module description
The purpose of this module is to provide an introduction to French political thought of the 20th-century, a significant current of French intellectual life and an important avenue for the understanding of both historical and cultural tendencies in France in this period. The module focuses on three issues: the rise of fascism, which dominates the interwar period; the controversy between socialism, liberal democracy and individual revolt which follows immediately the end of the war; and the subsequent opening of new spaces for political thought around the themes of gender, race and everyday life. This series of focal points provides a representative sample of the knots which tie together political thinking and the major historical tendencies which shaped this period. This module will allow students to complement their knowledge of the first half of the 20th century by providing an accessible introduction to some of the major figures of 20th century French thought and illuminating their links with other aspects of French culture. It will thus provide a deeper understanding of the tendencies that shaped contemporary French society.
Assessment details
Assessed coursework of 1500-2000 words worth 25% submitted during the semester and a 2 hour exam (75%) at the end of the module.
Educational aims & objectives
This module aims to:
- Introduce students to some of the key texts and intellectual debates in French political thought of the 20th-century.
- Develop an understanding of the way political thought is related to the history of the period.
- Develop an understanding of the way political thought impacts upon and is related to cultural production.
- Enable students to engage analytically and critically with one of the significant intellectual currents in the 20th century.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students will have:
- Acquired a broad understanding of the crucial currents and debates in French political thought of the 20th-century.
- Have a sound knowledge of the relation between these currents and debates and the historical context.
- Be able to relate and situate key texts and tendencies in 20th-century French political thought to the cultural and literary context of this period.
- Be able to construct coherent arguments drawing on interpretative engagements with the primary material of the module.
Teaching pattern
Two classes per week (a lecture and a seminar).
Suggested reading list
The texts will be available in a course-pack online on Keats or online and students are not expected to purchase their own copies
The rise of fascism
- Georges Bataille, 'La Structure psychologique du fascisme' (1933)/ ‘The Psychological structure of fascism’ (online on Keats)
- Julien Benda, 'Vue d'ensemble - Pronostics', extract from La Trahison des clercs (1927)/ ‘The Treason of the Intellectual’ (to be provided online)
- Simone Weil, 'Réflexions sur les causes de la liberté et de l'oppression sociales' (1955/1934)/ ‘Opression and Liberty’ (to be provided online)
Revolution, revolt, liberal democracy
- Jean-Paul Sartre, 'Matérialisme et révolution', extract from Situations II (1946)/ ‘Materialism and revolution’, extracts from Situations II (to be provided online)
- Albert Camus, 'Le Terrorisme d'etat et la terreur rationelle'; 'Révolte et révolution', extracts from L'Homme révolté (1951)/ ‘State Terrorism and Rational Terror’ ; ‘Revolt and Revolution’, extracts from The Rebel (to be provided online)
- Raymond Aron, 'Les Intellectuels en quète de religion’; ‘Conclusion’ extract from L’Opium des intellectuels (1955), extracts from The Opium of the Intellectuals (to be provided online)
New terrains
- Simone de Beauvoir, ‘Introduction’; ‘Conclusion’, extracts from Le Deuxième Sexe (1949)/ ‘Introduction’ ; ‘Conclusion’, extracts from The Second Sex
- Henri Lefebvre, ‘Notes écrites un Dimanche dans la campagne française’ extract from Critique de la vie quotidienne (1948)/ ‘Notes Written One Sunday in the French Countryside’, extract from Critique of Everyday Life (to be provided online)
- Frantz Fanon, 'L'Expérience vécue du noir' from Peau noire, masques blancs (1952)/ ‘The Lived Experience of the Black Man’, extract from Black Skin, White Masks (to be provided online)
Students on post A level French programmes (including EIS French pathway) must read the set texts in the original French. The works will be studied in the order listed here.