LES INTELLECTUELS ET LA POLITIQUE

In: Revue française de science politique, Band 9, Heft 4, S. 860-880

Abstract

In France there exists a traditional connection between the intellectuals & pol'al life: they have a more extensive relationship than in other nations. The intellectuals involved in politics are mainly writers, but their circle has gradually increased to include scholars, publishers, & academicians. Their pol'al behavior has specific characteristics: they express themselves through manifestos, through taking public stands, & through petitions. Their concern for pol'al issues stems from their concern with the moral & philosophical consequences of these issues. The history of the pol'al participation of the intellectuals varies between periods of activity & periods which see a return to pol'al unconcern. In the Dreyfus case the intellectuals were divided, the writers tending toward the Right & the professors toward the Left. The situation changed little during the following 20 yrs. The intellectual prestige of radicalism eclipsed around 1930, while Communism became increasingly attractive. After 1934, events of the time saw a polarization of the intellectuals at 2 extremes: anti-fascism & nationalism. These 2 camps were no less divided, notably the Left with regard to Communism. Since 1940, the concern of intellectuals with pol'al life was directly related to the great national crises: resistance & collaboration, relationship to Communism, overseas problems, & most recently, the relationship of the U to the army. Tr by J. A. Broussard from IPSA.