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La Révolution introuvable : Réflexions sur les événements de mai
Mai 68 n’aura-t-il été qu’un psychodrame bavard, selon la formule cruelle et lapidaire de Raymond Aron ?
Dans La Révolution introuvable, l’observateur perspicace de l’actualité politique montre que par-delà le brouhaha des apparences, les risques étaient faibles que Mai 68 ne constitue un danger sérieux pour les institutions de la Ve République. Les deux grandes forces qui structuraient alors la vie politique française, le Parti communiste et le mouvement gaulliste, n’y avaient aucun intérêt.
Comme l’analyse Philippe Raynaud dans sa préface inédite, Raymond Aron, en héritier de la grande tradition sociologique, fut également attentif à la crise essentielle de nos sociétés modernes dont Mai 68 fut un des premiers symptômes : la tension contradictoire entre la passion de l’égalité, la demande de reconnaissance des individus, et l’interdépendance croissante de chacun à l’égard de tous.
Dans La Révolution introuvable, l’observateur perspicace de l’actualité politique montre que par-delà le brouhaha des apparences, les risques étaient faibles que Mai 68 ne constitue un danger sérieux pour les institutions de la Ve République. Les deux grandes forces qui structuraient alors la vie politique française, le Parti communiste et le mouvement gaulliste, n’y avaient aucun intérêt.
Comme l’analyse Philippe Raynaud dans sa préface inédite, Raymond Aron, en héritier de la grande tradition sociologique, fut également attentif à la crise essentielle de nos sociétés modernes dont Mai 68 fut un des premiers symptômes : la tension contradictoire entre la passion de l’égalité, la demande de reconnaissance des individus, et l’interdépendance croissante de chacun à l’égard de tous.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
13 people want to read
About the author
Raymond Aron
343 books175 followersRaymond-Claude-Ferdinand Aron (French: [ʁɛmɔ̃ aʁɔ̃]; 14 March 1905 – 17 October 1983) was a French philosopher, sociologist, journalist, and political scientist.
He is best known for his 1955 book The Opium of the Intellectuals, the title of which inverts Karl Marx's claim that religion was the opium of the people – Aron argues that in post-war France, Marxism was the opium of intellectuals. In the book, Aron chastised French intellectuals for what he described as their harsh criticism of capitalism and democracy and their simultaneous defense of Marxist oppression, atrocities, and intolerance. Critic Roger Kimball[2] suggests that Opium is "a seminal book of the twentieth century." Aron is also known for his lifelong friendship, sometimes fractious, with philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.[3]
He is also known for his 1973 book, The Imperial Republic: The United States and the World 1945-1973, which influenced Zbigniew Brzezinski and Henry Kissinger, among others.
Aron wrote extensively on a wide range of other topics. Citing the breadth and quality of Aron's writings, historian James R. Garland[4] suggests, "Though he may be little known in America, Raymond Aron arguably stood as the preeminent example of French intellectualism for much of the twentieth century."
He is best known for his 1955 book The Opium of the Intellectuals, the title of which inverts Karl Marx's claim that religion was the opium of the people – Aron argues that in post-war France, Marxism was the opium of intellectuals. In the book, Aron chastised French intellectuals for what he described as their harsh criticism of capitalism and democracy and their simultaneous defense of Marxist oppression, atrocities, and intolerance. Critic Roger Kimball[2] suggests that Opium is "a seminal book of the twentieth century." Aron is also known for his lifelong friendship, sometimes fractious, with philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.[3]
He is also known for his 1973 book, The Imperial Republic: The United States and the World 1945-1973, which influenced Zbigniew Brzezinski and Henry Kissinger, among others.
Aron wrote extensively on a wide range of other topics. Citing the breadth and quality of Aron's writings, historian James R. Garland[4] suggests, "Though he may be little known in America, Raymond Aron arguably stood as the preeminent example of French intellectualism for much of the twentieth century."
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 3, 2023
I am an incurable sixty-eighter (according to May 68, not my age), and I remember my anger when reading this text by the very Figaro-compatible Raymond Aron. I have calmed down since, but that does not prevent the idol thinker from the right is very mistaken too.
June 14, 2023
Quite a hard book to read, especially if you have no knowledge on a French May of 1968.
But it's a great and influential critics on events that were something like a birthplace of a new left which inspired Mouffe and many other and created a new left vision, like a "radicalization of a democracy".
Probably the last country that falls into a description is Chile with it's events of October 2019 to March of 2020, student revolts of 2006 and 2011, and, the most important, the ideas of Frente Amplio. The same works for Spain's Podemos.
But it's a great and influential critics on events that were something like a birthplace of a new left which inspired Mouffe and many other and created a new left vision, like a "radicalization of a democracy".
Probably the last country that falls into a description is Chile with it's events of October 2019 to March of 2020, student revolts of 2006 and 2011, and, the most important, the ideas of Frente Amplio. The same works for Spain's Podemos.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews