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The Politics of Privilege

Old Regime and Revolution in Lille

By: Gail Bossenga

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The Politics of Privilege

Old Regime and Revolution in Lille

By: Gail Bossenga

This study analyzes the political and fiscal origins of the French Revolution by looking at the relationship between the royal government and privileged, corporate bodies at local level. Utilizing a neo-Tocquevillian approach, it argues that the monarchy undermined its own attempts at reform by extending central authority, while at the same time it continued to rely upon corporate structures and monopolies to finance the state. The unresolvable, institutional conflicts had the effect of politicising members of the privileged elite and eventually led many of them to embrace a rhetoric of citizenship, accountability, and civic equality that had far-reaching and unanticipated consequences. When Lille's bourgeoisie consolidated a municipal revolution in 1789, they followed a programme that was politically liberal, but economically conservative. Arranged as a series of case-studies, the book illuminates the structure of political power in the Flemish provincial estates, the growth of royal taxation, the problem of municipal credit, the role of venal officeholders, and the relationship of the revolutionary bourgeoisie to monopolies of the guilds.

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Page Count

280

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521893720

ISBN 13

9780521893725

The Politics of Privilege

Old Regime and Revolution in Lille

By: Gail Bossenga

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Politics of Privilege

Old Regime and Revolution in Lille

By: Gail Bossenga

This study analyzes the political and fiscal origins of the French Revolution by looking at the relationship between the royal government and privileged, corporate bodies at local level. Utilizing a neo-Tocquevillian approach, it argues that the monarchy undermined its own attempts at reform by extending central authority, while at the same time it continued to rely upon corporate structures and monopolies to finance the state. The unresolvable, institutional conflicts had the effect of politicising members of the privileged elite and eventually led many of them to embrace a rhetoric of citizenship, accountability, and civic equality that had far-reaching and unanticipated consequences. When Lille's bourgeoisie consolidated a municipal revolution in 1789, they followed a programme that was politically liberal, but economically conservative. Arranged as a series of case-studies, the book illuminates the structure of political power in the Flemish provincial estates, the growth of royal taxation, the problem of municipal credit, the role of venal officeholders, and the relationship of the revolutionary bourgeoisie to monopolies of the guilds.

Average ratings

N/A

5

0%

4

0%

3

0%

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Age

Page Count

288

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0521893720

ISBN 13

9780521893725