Youth Movements in France in the 1930s

Bibliographic Data

ID10075919
AuthorsAline Coutrot (corresponding author)
Year1970
Volume5
Issue1
Pages23-35
Publication date1970-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Contemporary History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-0094 • E-ISSN: 1461-7250
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/002200947000500102
OpenAlexW1966151312
LanguageEN
Citations received5

Can we see in the youth of France a common cause, a basic community of outlook ? It seems that the solidarity produced by danger has succeeded in creating unity where masters and doctrines have failed; they are united in their rejection of the distressing aspects of our time, where everything that a man might love or desire is destroyed at source, blighted, adulterated, perverted, sabotaged.. .' This question, posed by the Nouvelle Revue Franfaise in its 'Cahier de revendications' published in December I932, is of interest to the historian today, and recent research has brought to light the attitudes of dissent and hope shared by a young generation which dreamed of going beyond the traditional forms of opposition and was full of enthusiasm for revolutionary projects.' Despite their political differences, these young men were brought together by their vehement denunciation of society, their profound anxieties, and their indefatigable search for new forms of social organization which would respect human dignity. 'In the permanent scandal of the civilization of which we are part', wrote the young communist normalien, Nizan, 'everything is swept away in the general disaster which is swallowing up mankind ... For those who are committed, life itself is at stake.' Thierry Maulnier, in his contributions to Action Franfaise and Reaction, was no less bitter in his criticism of the prevailing disorder; he advocated total revolution: 'To save what must be saved

Political science · French Historical and Cultural Studies · Historical and Political Studies · History

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