G. Clemenceau and the Problems of Strong Power in France (1914 – 1919)

The relevance of studying the problem of “strong” power in France during the Great War and after its end is due not only to the vicissitudes of the country's history in the twentieth century, but also to the pluralism of its interpretations in historiography – from debunking the authoritarian essence of Clemenceau premiership to its apologetics. Based on original sources and research literature, the article analyzes the factors that influenced the deformation of constitutional institutions during the War. The specifics and nature of G. Clemenceau’s War Cabinet and the impact of the Prime Minister's own personality on achieving a turning point in military operations and ensure a victory. Clemenceau’s “dictatorship” was a manifestation of the tendency to establish “strong power” in the country during the period from the introduction of the state of emergency in August and September 1914 to the beginning of the election campaign in October 1919. Its nature was determined by the need to solve vital problems in the face of a powerful German onslaught: the mobilization of all available resources to ensure victory and the consolidation of society for this purpose. The preservation of Clemenceau's “strong power” in the first post-war period was linked to the need for reconstruction (restoring the economy destroyed by the war and achieving social stabilization), implementing the “French peace program” at the Paris conference, as well as countering the mass movement and the threat of Bolshevism. The article’s materials are presented in a political and legal aspect which makes it possible to draw a fundamental conclusion: the ideas of republicanism and democracy that have been established since the French revolution largely determined the temporary nature of Clemenceau's “dictatorship” and the full restoration of democratic norms in the run-up to the 1919 election campaign. The wartime “strong power” precedents had far-reaching consequences. They gave rise to a strong tendency to authoritarianism, which was reflected in the intensification of political confrontation in the 1920s and 1930s, and influenced the Vichy regime and the regime of General Charles de Gaulle's “personal power”.

Keywords

“Strong power”, dictatorship, republican institutions, parliament, legislation of the Third Republic, military offices, emergency legislation, anti-parliamentarism

Received

22.05.2020

Publication date

29.01.2021

Number of characters

36790

Cite

GOST	Atchkinasi B. G. Clemenceau and the Problems of “Strong Power” in France (1914 – 1919) // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2021. – Issue 1 C. 117-129 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640013380-6-1 (circulation date: 26.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640013380-6
MLA	Atchkinasi, Boris "G. Clemenceau and the Problems of “Strong Power” in France (1914 – 1919)." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 1 (2021):117-129. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640013380-6
APA	Atchkinasi B. (2021). G. Clemenceau and the Problems of “Strong Power” in France (1914 – 1919). Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (1), pp.117-129 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640013380-6

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 734

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Atchkinasi B.A. Sotsial'naya politika Natsional'nogo bloka (1919–1920 gg.) [Social policy of the National Bloc (1919–1920)] // Frantsuzskiy yezhegodnik. 1981 [French Yearbook. 1981]. Moskva, 1983. Р. 91–105. (In Russ.)

2. Demichelle A., Demichelle F., Pickemal F. Instituty i vlast' vo Frantsii [Institutions and power in France]. Moskva, 1977. (In Russ.)

3. Duran P. Soldatskiye volneniya vo frantsuzskoy armii v 1917 g. [Soldier riots in the French army in 1917] // Frantsuzskiy yezhegodnik. 1978 [French Yearbook. 1978]. Moskva, 1980. Р. 78–88. (In Russ).

4. Gurvich S.N. Byl li Klemanso chlenom partii radikalov? [Was Clemenceau a member of the radical party?] // Frantsuzskiy yezhegodnik. 1980 [French Yearbook. 1980]. Moskva, 1982. Р. 142–153. (In Russ.)

5. Istoriya Frantsii [History of France]. T. 2. Moskva, 1973. (In Russ.)

6. Poincare R .Na sluzhbe Frantsii. 1915–1916. Vospominaniya. Memuary [In the service of France. 1915–1916. Memoirs]. Moskva-Minsk, 2002. (In Russ.)

7. Pritzker D.P. Zhorzh Klemanso. Politicheskaya biografiya [Georges Clemenceau. Political biography]. Moskva, 1983. (In Russ.)

8. AbensourL.Clemenceau intime. Paris, 1928.

9. Аnnales de la Chambre des Députes. 11-me législature. Débats parlementaires. Session ordinaire de 1914. T. II. Paris, 1915.

10. Аnnales de la Chambre des Députes. 11-me législature. Débats parlementaires. Session ordinaire de 1917. T. I. Part. III. Paris, 1917.

11. Аnnales de la Chambre des Députes. 11-me législature. Débats parlementaires. Session ordinaire de 1919. T. I. Part. I. Paris, 1919.

12. Bernard Ph. La fin d’un monde. 1914–1928. (Nouvel histoire de la France contemporaine). Paris, 1975.

13. Bonnefous E. Histoire politique de la Troisième République. T. 3. L’Après-guerre. Paris, 1959.

14. Bulletin des lois de la République Française. Serie XII. – V. XXIII. Dexième semestre de 1881. Paris, 1882.

15. Caillaux J. Devant l’histoire. Mes prisons. Paris, 1920.

16. Clemenceau G. Sur la démocratie: neuf conférence, rapportées par Maurice Segard. Paris, 1930.

17. Code de commerce suivi des lois commerciales, industrielles et ouvrières. Paris, 1909.

18. De Ravisi B. Sous la dictature de Clemenceau. Un forfait judiciaire. Paris, 1926.

19. Discours prononcé par J. Clemenceau, Président du Conseil, Ministre de la Guerre à Strasbourg le 4 Novembre 1919. Paris, 1919.

20. Domenique P. Clemenceau. Paris, 1963.

21. Duroselle J.-B. Clemenceau. Paris, 1988.

22. Escaich R. Les monstres sacrés de la III-е République. Paris, 1974.

23. Fohlen C., Surratteau J. Textes d’histoire contemporaine. Paris, 1967.

24. Général Mopdack. Le Ministère Clemenceau. Journal d’un témoin. T. IV. Juillet 1919 –Janvier 1920. Paris, 1931.

25. Jeanneney J. M., Perrot M. Textes de droit économique et social français. Paris, 1957.

26. Journal Officielde la République Française. Lois et décrets, arrȇtes, circulaires, avis, communications. 24.X.1919.

27. L'Année politique. 1880 (par A.Daniel). Paris, 1881.

28. La Revue communiste. 1920. № 1.

29. Latzarus L. La France veut-elle le Roi? Paris, 1967.

30. Lémery A. D’une République à l’autre. Souvenirs de la melée politique. 1894–1940. Paris, 1964.

31. Les Constitutions et principales lois politiques de la France depuis 1789. Paris, 1952.

32. Lippman W. The Political Tame: An Essay on Victory of 1918. New York, 1919.

33. Malvy J.-L. Mon crime. Paris, 1921.

34. Maurras Ch. Le mauvais traité de la Victoire à Locarno. T. 1. Paris, 1928.

35. Monnerville G. Clemenceau. Paris, 1968.

36. Montant J.-C. Clemenceau Georges // Dictionnaire historique de la vie politique française au XX–e siècle (Sous la dir. de J.-F.Sirinelli). Paris, 2003.

37. Renouvin P. Les formes du gouvernement de Guerre. Paris, 1925.

38. Suarez G. LavieorgueilleusedeClémenceau. Paris, 1930.

39. Wormser G. La République de Clemenceau. Paris, 1961.