
Prosperity and Torment in France
The Paradox of the Democratic Age
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
A philosophical and historical analysis of the paradox of French democracy that illuminates the challenges of the current democratic age.
In Prosperity and Torment in France, philosopher Chantal Delsol provides an analysis of the current state of affairs in French politics, economics, and cultural life that reveals key lessons for modern democracies around the world. She examines the seeming paradox of France as a wealthy country that provides almost unrivaled social services to its citizens at no extra cost, but one whose citizens are unsatisfied with the current state of affairs. Delsol traces this current dilemma back several hundred years, and examines the principle of the common good and its inherent tension with concepts like democracy and egalitarianism that often emphasize individualism. Likewise, Delsol emphasizes this concept also stands in contrast to the centralization of power in Paris throughout its history. In the end, Delsol notes that these historical tensions set the stage for many of the current tensions in France: secularism versus religion, economic liberalism versus the welfare state, civil service versus the private sector, and material wealth versus status.
By examining the paradox of France, Delsol brings to the forefront the challenges democracies are facing around the globe and asks the broader question of how governments should best serve their people in our contemporary world.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half Title
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Foreword
- Translator’s Note
- Introduction: French Malaise
- 1 Identity, History
- 2 Republic vs. Democracy
- 3 Jacobinism and Bonapartism
- 4 A Distant and Maternal Government
- 5 Status and Positions
- 6 The Anthropology of Defiance: Envy, Equality, and Mistrust
- 7 Paris and the Provinces
- 8 Intellectuals
- 9 The Right and the Left
- 10 The People and the Elite
- 11 French Secularism
- 12 The Present State of Religion
- 13 The Sense of Identity and Immigration
- 14 Belonging to Europe
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index