| Popis: |
This thesis argues that understandings and experiences of time were a central element in the creation and the development of radical political movements on the far right and the far left in France in the period from 1899 to 1913. I establish this argument on three levels: first, time was of particular importance to the characters of this study and to the groupings they formed; next, it was a source of contestation which groups often used to distinguish themselves from one another or which could divide them internally; and finally, different understandings and experiences of time caused radical movements to evolve in certain ways and were at the heart of how they developed. The study draws its sources from several overlapping circles of thinkers, writers, and activists: those who engaged in the Dreyfus Affair, those active in independent socialist and syndicalist groups, and those involved in nationalist leagues. Diverse though these groupings were, they all asked parallel questions about the nature of and the relationship between the temporal categories of past, present, and future. On the far left, thinkers and activists sought to bridge a perceived gulf between present and future while on the far right, many pondered how to overcome a present they perceived as worthless and attempted to heal the rift between past and future in the French national timeframe. Exploring ideas about time allows us to enrich our understanding of these circles, the nature of their activism, and the broader makeup of the French political landscape of the time. Ultimately, the thesis offers an original perspective on an important moment in French history and, in so doing, seeks to make a methodological contribution by demonstrating that understandings and experiences of time provide a useful analytical tool for historians. |
