Cambridge Universit y Pre ss 978-0-521-47451-1 - …assets.cambridge.org/.../frontmatter/9780521474511_frontmatter.pdf · more receptive to change than their 'progressive' opponents

This book is the first general study of politics and society in the Fourth Republic to be founded on extensive primary research. It approaches the period in terms of successful conservatism rather than thwarted reform, maintaining that conservatism in France was a more subtle and dynamic force than has previously been appreciated. Not the preserve of any single party, conservative ideas were often defended by institutions outside the realm of explicit politics altogether, such as business associations, civil service departments and the law courts. It is proposed that conservatives did not simply return to French politics in 1945 untouched by the events of the previous five years. The experiences of Vichy, the occupation and the purges produced new kinds of political synthesis, making conservatives more receptive to change than their 'progressive' opponents.

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Cambridge University Press978-0-521-47451-1 - Bourgeois Politics in France, 1945–1951Richard VinenFrontmatterMore information

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Bourgeois politics in France, 1945-1951











Bourgeois politics in France, 1945-1951 Richard Vinen King's College, London

UCAMBRIDGE V UNIVERSITY PRESS






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© Cambridge University Press 1995

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 1995

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Vinen, Richard. Bourgeois politics in France, 1945-1951 I Richard Vinen.

p. em. Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0 521 47451 5 I. France- Politics and government- 1945- I. Title.

DC4o4.V56 1995 944.082-dcw 94-21349 CIP

ISBN 978-0-521-47451-1 Hardback ISBN 978-0-521-52276-2 Paperback

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To Alison











Contents

Preface List of abbreviations and French political groups

I Introduction 2 A historiographic overview 3 International comparisons 4 Notables 5 Bourgeois parties and the female electorate 6 Organized business and politics 7 Administration 8 Opposition nationale 9 The Parti Republicain de Ia Liberte

10 Machine a ramasser les Petainistes? The Mouvement Republicain Populaire and the conservative electorate

II The Rassemblement des Gauches Republicaines 12 The Rassemblement du Peuple Fran9ais 13 Independents and Peasants 14 The Groupement de Defense des Contribuables 15 Conclusion

Appendix. The electoral law of 1951 and apparentements Bibliography Index

page xi Xll

I 12 21 31 46 56 82

102 115

137 173 216 234 252 265

277 278 292











Preface

I am grateful for the help that I received from a number of institutions and individuals in the preparation of this book. Permission to consult documents was given by the Archives Nationales, the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, Madame Bidault, Madame Lecompte-Boinet and Madame Demey. I particularly enjoyed my visit to the archives of Henri Queuille in Neuvic d'Ussel where everyone was more than helpful.

Richard Fisher, Peter Morris, Kevin Passmore and an anonymous publisher's reader all gave useful advice and encouragement. Hilary Scannell took great pains, and displayed heroic patience, while copyediting the typescript. Grants to visit France were provided by Trinity College Cambridge, the British Academy, the Twenty Seven foundation and King's College London. Hospitality and companionship in France were provided by David Baker, Dagmar Braun, Joel Felix and Ella FelixBraun. My parents and my sister have been an endless source of material and emotional support. Most importantly of all, Alison Henwood always reminded me that there is more to life than Fourth Republic politics and usually tolerated me when I failed to heed this wise reminder.

All translations from French language sources are by the author unless otherwise attributed.

XI






Abbreviations and French political groups

AD ADMP

ARPTR

CEE CFPC CGA CGPME

CGT CJP CNC CNI CNIP CNPF CRS ENA FNSEA

FFI FR GDC

MDC MRP PCF Peasant party PRL PRR PSD PSF

Xll

Alliance Democratique Association pour Defendre Ia Memoire du Marechal Petain Association des Representants du Peuple de Ia Troisieme Republique Centre d'Etudes Economiques Centre Francyais du Patronat Chretien Confederation Generale de I' Agriculture Confederation Generale des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises Confederation Generale du Travail Centre des Jeunes Patrons Conseil National du Commerce Centre National des Independants Centre National des Independants et Paysans Conseil National du Patronat Francyais Compagnies republicaines de securite Ecole nationale d'administration Federation Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles Forces francyaises de l'interieur Federation Republicaine Groupement de Defense des Contribuables et des Libertes Professionnelles Mouvement de Defense des Contribuables Mouvement Republicain Populaire Parti Communiste Francyais Parti Paysan Parti Republicain de Ia Liberte Parti de Renovation Republicaine Parti Socialiste Democratique Parti Social Francyais






List of abbreviations xiii

Radical party RF

RGR RGRIF

RI RPF RS SFIO UDFI UDI UDSR UIE UNIR UPR

Parti Republicain Radical et Radical-Socialiste Reconciliation Fran~aise (or the Parti Republicain et Social de la Reconciliation Fran~aise) Rassemblement des Gauches Republicaines Rassemblement des Groupes Republicains et Independants Fran~ais Republicains Independants Rassemblement du Peuple Fran~ais Republicains Socialistes Section Fran~aise de l'Intemationale Ouvriere Union Democratique des Fran~ais Independants Union Democratique des Independants Union Democratique et Socialiste de Ia Resistance Union des lnterets Economiques Union des Nationaux et Independants Republicains Union Patriotique Republicaine











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