Political Uses of Concepts of Tyranny and Despotism in French Thought During Terror, Directory, and First Empire

FAIN: FT-13480-77

Melvin Richter
CUNY Research Foundation, Hunter College (New York, NY 10065-5024)

To investigate the use of the concepts of tyranny and despotism during the Terror, Directory, and the period of Napoleon's dominance during the Consulate and First Empire and to consider two contrasting theories about the necessity and quality of total domination in the context of revolution. PI hopes to determine whether were alternatives to constant argument that Napoleon's system of oppression was more thorough than anything previously known because of his use of demagoguery, propaganda, etc., and because of the breakdown of structures from the former society.