Liberty! Equality! Division?

May 6th 2007 – Elections in France, right-wing conserv- ative Nicolas Sarkozy has won elections over his leftist opposition. With a 53% majority of the vote, Sarkozy eliminated his opponent, Segolene Royal, by a very thin margin. Incredibly, the participation rate soared over 85%. The new government will replace the current leftist government of Jacques Chirac. This ideological shift was possibly caused by dissatisfaction with the last government and its policies or by a change in beliefs by the French population.

Historically, France has suffered and thrived through a bevy of republics and empires with a wide range of goals and ideologies. Perhaps their most notable shift in government and political spectrum occurred in the 1789-1812/14 period. It was here that a divine-right monarchy turned into anarchy, then into a republican dictatorship and an empire.

Firstly, the beginning of the French revolution in 1789 was caused by a multitude of antagonisms but can be mostly placed on the shoulders of an oppressive feudal system, a decrepit economy, a corrupt nobility and an abusive Church. This last cause explains why much more clergymen than nobles were executed in the first years (1789-1792). Three years of relative anarchy then provided a context of confusion, witch hunts and bureaucratic oblivion.

Secondly, the period 1792-1798/99 brought about the establishment of relatively stable governments. Three “directories” composed of a rich bourgeoisie succeeded one another by authoritative dictates that called for equality and liberty whilst ordering the slaughter of more clergymen and counter-revolutionaries. Notably, the 1793-1794 year dubbed “la terreur” was one of incredible repression, censure and inquisition by the people that wanted change but re-established the very abuses they wished to get rid of. It seemed to not be so bad if they were the oppressors and no longer the opressees.

Finally, first consul of the republic, Napoleon Bonaparte, inaugurated the French Empire (1804-1812/14). At first glance, it seems as though there was a lot of uselessly shed blood for a return to a monarchy (empire). Actually, Napoleon conquered land, brought victory to his people and brought the republican ideas to the rest of Europe, ideas that the French had fought to obtain.

Through some very messy steps, the French brought about change because they did not agree with the times (and possibly because they realised that they outnumbered the nobles and clergymen 100 to 1).

These present elections do not denote a dramatic change (47% Vs. 53%) but certainly indicate a sign of the times. Other nations, such as Canada, have also recently adopted a rightist government after over a decade of liberal and semi-socialist gouvernance. I leave it up to you to poll your surroundings to see if this is a sign of discontent with our liberal ways or a search for a more firm, conservative gouvernement, in the western world.

(Pictured: The fall of the Bastille in 1789 - Sarkozy indicating he will hit a home-run in right-field)

End.