The French Revolution : a tale of terror and hope for our times / Harold Behr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Behr, Harold, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Revolutionaries.

Psychology.

Revolutions.

Psychological aspects.

History.

France--History--Revolution, 1789-1799--Psychological aspects.

France.

Revolutions--France--Psychological aspects.

Revolutionaries--France--Psychology.

Revolutionaries--Psychology.

Revolutions--Psychological aspects.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xv, 161 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Brighton ; Chicago ; Toronto : Sussex Academic Press, 2015.

Summary:

This is the story of the French Revolution told from a psychological and group dynamic perspective. The aim is to throw light on the workings of the revolutionary mind and the emotions at work in society that pave the way towards revolution and war. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are presented as a couple trapped by the symbolism invested in them, a circumstance that turned them into scapegoats. The contrasting personalities of the two most controversial leader of the revolution - Robespierre and Danton - provide psychologically informed explanation of their success and failure as leaders. The group perspective - the nature of crowd behaviour and mob violence - links to the complex relationship between leaders and groups. In the Parisian case of 1789 group emotions - fear rage, euphoria and fervour - influenced the course of the Revolution. The assassination of Marat and the struggle to the death between the extremists of the Left and the Moderates is a classic study in group paranoia culminating in a Reign of Terror destined to end in self-destructive violence. The conflict between the Revolution and the Church as an expression of belief an ideal society led to a battle for the minds of a people facing two incompatible ideologies. The French Revolution was an important milestone in Western social and political development. It carried within itself the seeds of a humane society but turned into murder and execution. The dichtomiesl arising echo down the generations. The same split in our thinking applies to how we view today's social upheavals and conflicts - conflicts of opposing mythologies with their psychological overtones interpreted as political doctrines - as evinced currently in Russia's territorial claims to Eastern Ukraine, Islamic fundamentalist wars, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hope lies in the application of therapeutic principles garnered from the field of group dynamics. Book jacket.

Contents:

Theoretical Preamble 1

1 Louis XVI: The Scapegoat King 13

2 Robespierre: The Mind of a Fanatic 25

3 Danton: The Passionate Opportunist 39

4 Violence and Enlightenment: The Paradox of the French Revolution 53

5 The Revolutionary Crowd: Bloodthirsty Mob or Will of the People? 69

6 Revolution versus Religion: God, Reason and the God of Reason 85

7 Heroes, Tyrants and Martyrs: The Assassination of Marat and the Murder of the Girondins 97

8 The Reign of Terror: A Study in Group Paranoia 113

9 The Power of the Group to Destroy its Leader: The Fall of Robespierre 129

10 How History and Myth Intertwine 141.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781845197032

1845197038

OCLC:

891494701