“The Constitution, the National Assembly, the dynastic parties, the blue and the red republicans, the heroes of Africa, the thunder from the platform, the sheet lightning of the daily press, the entire literature, the political names and the intellectual reputations, the civil law and penal code, the liberté, égalité, fraternité and the second of May 1852—all have vanished like a phantasmagoria before the spell of a man whom even his enemies do not make out to be a magician. Universal suffrage seems to have survived only for a moment, in order that with its own hand it may make its last will and testament before the eyes of all the world and declare in the name of the people itself: Everything that exists has this much worth, that it will perish.”
Quote by Karl Marx
Work
This work examines the political and social circumstances surrounding the coup of 18 Brumaire (December 2, 1851), in which Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I, dissolved the French National Assembly and seized dictatorial power. The text explores the interplay of class struggles, state power, and historical repetition, famously noting that great events occur twice: first as tragedy, then as farce. It provides a critical perspective on the rise of authoritarianism within a democratic framework, focusing on the role of the peasantry, the bourgeoisie, and the proletariat in shaping political outcomes. The analysis is grounded in the specific events of mid-19th century France, offering insights into the mechanics of political manipulation and the fragility of republican institutions. more
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