Communism in Rural France
French Agricultural Workers and the Popular Front
1st Edition
Published on 30. September 2008
288 pages
978-0-85771-153-3 (ISBN)
Description
The French Communist Party has traditionally been identified with the urban working class but paradoxically its position as France's main left-wing party was dependent upon support from the countryside. "Communism in Rural France" explores for the first time the party's complex and often misunderstood relationship with agricultural labourers.During 1936 and 1937 a bitter struggle between agricultural workers and farmers swept through parts of the French countryside. Coinciding with the urban 'social explosion' which followed the victory of the Popular Front government, the strikes, farm occupations and increased unionisation panicked farmers and shocked right-wing opinion, which blamed the spread of the 'corrupting' collectivist influences of urban society into the countryside on the French Communist Party."Communism in Rural France" traces the evolution and characteristics of the agricultural workers' movement from the turn of the 20th century through the inter-war years, as well as the response of the government and the resistance organised by farmers during 1936-37.
By focussing on agricultural workers, John Bulaitis sheds light on a section of the rural population that has been generally overlooked in French rural and labour history. "Communism in Rural France" explores their relationship with the French Communist Party and illuminates an important and previously neglected aspect of European politics.
By focussing on agricultural workers, John Bulaitis sheds light on a section of the rural population that has been generally overlooked in French rural and labour history. "Communism in Rural France" explores their relationship with the French Communist Party and illuminates an important and previously neglected aspect of European politics.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-0-85771-153-3 (9780857711533)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2008
I.B. Tauris
€164.30
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
John Bulaitis teaches at the University of Essex, specialising in twentieth-century French history. He obtained his PhD from Queen Mary, University of London. He has taught European history at Queen Mary, Royal Holloway and the Open University and translation at London South Bank University. He has also worked at Goldsmiths College, University of London, organising outreach work in schools and colleges. His forthcoming biography of Maurice Thorez will also be published by I.B.Tauris.
Content
Tables and Illustrations
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The Legacy of pre-1914 French Socialism
The emergence of the 'peasant question'
Socialist agrarianism
The French agricultural worker in the early twentieth century
Socialists and the agricultural strike movement
Chapter 3. Communist agrarianism, 1921-28
The Comintern and the agricultural proletariat
The Marseille thesis: 'nothing has changed'.
Post-war agricultural workers' unionism
The 'absurdity' of the class struggle in the countryside
Chapter 4. 'Class against Class' in the countryside, 1928-34
The agricultural proletariat at the centre of agrarian strategy
The FUA during the 'class against class' period (1928-32)
Winter 1932/3: a new orientation
Chapter 5. Communists and the agricultural labour force, 1933-35
'A rural proletariat comparable to the industrial proletariat'
Building the FUA in the Calais region
Vive Marcel Cachin!', 'Vive Monsieur Behin!'
Agricultural workers' unionism and the immigrant worker
The Peasant Popular Front
Chapter 6. Rebellion in the fields, 1936-37
'We will no longer be common bastards'
The communists and the Calais strike movement
Who led the farm strikes?
An agricultural Matignon?
The 20 July 'general strike'
The Battle of Arras
The FNTA in face of a counter-offensive
1937: Radicalisation and defeat
Chapter 7. Characteristics of the farm strikes
The farm strikes as community struggles
Farm occupations
Immigrant workers: the 'spearhead of the movement'?
Chapter 8. The farm strikes and the policy of 'peasant unity'
Waldeck Rochet and the strike movement
The strikes and the 'small and middling' farmers
Uniting workers and farmers in the Cantal
A 'fascist provocation' in the Calvados
Two ideas on 'peasant unity'
Conclusion
Sources
Bibliography
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The Legacy of pre-1914 French Socialism
The emergence of the 'peasant question'
Socialist agrarianism
The French agricultural worker in the early twentieth century
Socialists and the agricultural strike movement
Chapter 3. Communist agrarianism, 1921-28
The Comintern and the agricultural proletariat
The Marseille thesis: 'nothing has changed'.
Post-war agricultural workers' unionism
The 'absurdity' of the class struggle in the countryside
Chapter 4. 'Class against Class' in the countryside, 1928-34
The agricultural proletariat at the centre of agrarian strategy
The FUA during the 'class against class' period (1928-32)
Winter 1932/3: a new orientation
Chapter 5. Communists and the agricultural labour force, 1933-35
'A rural proletariat comparable to the industrial proletariat'
Building the FUA in the Calais region
Vive Marcel Cachin!', 'Vive Monsieur Behin!'
Agricultural workers' unionism and the immigrant worker
The Peasant Popular Front
Chapter 6. Rebellion in the fields, 1936-37
'We will no longer be common bastards'
The communists and the Calais strike movement
Who led the farm strikes?
An agricultural Matignon?
The 20 July 'general strike'
The Battle of Arras
The FNTA in face of a counter-offensive
1937: Radicalisation and defeat
Chapter 7. Characteristics of the farm strikes
The farm strikes as community struggles
Farm occupations
Immigrant workers: the 'spearhead of the movement'?
Chapter 8. The farm strikes and the policy of 'peasant unity'
Waldeck Rochet and the strike movement
The strikes and the 'small and middling' farmers
Uniting workers and farmers in the Cantal
A 'fascist provocation' in the Calvados
Two ideas on 'peasant unity'
Conclusion
Sources
Bibliography
