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Let me begin by stating my profound admiration for Stefan Collini's Absent Minds and my broad agreement with its central theses concerning the place and role of intellectuals in Britain. [...]

INTRODUCTION: MELON VERSUS ROUSSEAU In his 'Last Reply' (1) to the criticisms directed at his Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and the Sciences Jean-Jacques Rousseau made the [...]

This article explores the writings of Michel Chevalier, a contemporary of Alexis de Tocqueville, on America. Despite widespread praise, Chevalier's text Lettres sur l'Amerique du Nord has been largely ignored in the scholarly literature. This article, therefore, reveals the nature of the account of America provided by Chevalier and, thereby, compares and contrasts his account with the more famous account penned by Tocqueville. In particular, it shows that Chevalier, viewing America from a Saint-Simonian background, was more aware of the economic dimensions of American culture and society than was Tocqueville. However, both recognized the differences that separated a democratic America from an aristocratic Europe and that the future lay with the former. The article concludes by examining the views of both Tocqueville and Chevalier on America in the wake of the Revolution of 1848, showing how America now figured as the model of a moderate republic for both authors.

France's Fifth Republic needs to detach itself from the traditions and practices of the imperial state to make sure that constitutional reforms will work for the welfare of its citizenry. It should discard of its elitist attitude which has been proven to be ineffective in responding to the growing multicultural nature of the French Society. Moreover, the republic should nurture a new conception of republican democracy similar to that advocated by writers Benjamin Constant and Blandine Kriegel.

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

As Jack Hayward's review of Francoise Melonio's Tocqueville et les Francais illustrates, the intellectual climate in France has shifted dramatically in the last two decades. Tocqueville's comeback goes hand in [...]

Beginning in summer of 1789 there was intense argument in France's National Assembly over the necessity of an explicit formulation of the rights of man. Debate also raged both over the exact nature of these rights and their philosophical foundation. A compromise document was formulated: the 'Declaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen.' This brought criticism from defenders of the counter-revolution who believed that such rights led to moral disintegration. Some utilitarian philosophers interpreted these rights in a way that would strip them of any radical implications.

The doctrine of syndicalism originated in France in the 19th century as a means of overthrowing capitalism and achieving working class power through general strike action. It developed through dissatisfaction with the political process. Trade unions were the agents of change. Syndicalists aimed for workers' industrial control and ownership, cooperative practices and reciprocal support. However World War 1914-1918 challenged support for French syndicalism. Parallel developments occurred in Spain, Italy, America and Britain but only the Spanish movement survived after 1918.

By Jeffrey C. Goldfarb. Cambridge University Press, 1998. 253 pp. Cloth, $59.95; paper, $22.95. This is a fine book. It is also an honest book. It avoids easy rhetoric and [...]

Jonathan Israel DEMOCRATIC ENLIGHTENMENT Philosophy, revolution, and human rights 1,152pp. Oxford University Press. 30 [pounds sterling] (US $45). 978 019 954820 0 Jonathan Israel believes that historians are wrong about [...]

Neil Davidson HOW REVOLUTIONARY WERE THE BOURGEOIS REVOLUTIONS? 840pp. Haymarket. Paperback, $32; distributed in the UK by Turnaround. 22.99 [pounds sterling]. 978 1 60846 067 0 Between 1847 and 1852, [...]

How should this book be read? If it is about the past of an illusion, then whose illusion was it? If its subject it the communist idea in the twentieth [...]

There can be little doubt that Robert Hue represents the acceptable face of contemporary French communism and that, as Georges Marchais' successor, he has provided the PCF with a leader [...]