The French Revolution: The Marxist Interpretation and the Revisionist Critic

Authors : Onur DÜNDAR, Mustafa İSLAMOĞLU

Pages : 647-654

Doi:10.33709/ictimaiyat.1187707

View : 19 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2022-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, the Marxist interpretation of the French Revolution and the Revisionist critic shall be compared. It shall be made use of categorical systematic content analysis through qualitative research method. The French Revolution, in this paper is the unique case that occurred in a certain period of the history. Marx and his followers investigated the roots of socialism in the French Revolution. This brought them to the economic dynamics of the revolution. Among these dynamics, the bourgeoisie is the dominant component. In the 1950’s this approach was contested by the revisionists. Cobban, one of the most prominent revisionists, argued that the “Third Estate” which is claimed to represent the bourgeoisie in the “General Assembly” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Etats Généraux); does not have a bourgeois character. Furet, another revisionist, remarks that the political culture arising from the revolution makes more difficult its accurate analysis. He believes that the feudal system, contrarily to Marxist assertions was destroyed by the presence of the justice of royalty lost its function before the revolution. The economic mechanism of the feudal land was not sustainable by 1789. The impact of the revolution, from this point of view was limited to wipe out the last remains of the feudal world.
Keywords : İktisadi Düşünce, Burjuvazi, Revizyonist Eleştiri, Marksist Gelenek, Aristokrasi