Determinants of Social Change in France at the End of the 18th Century: Sociological Dimensionof
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26565/2227-6521-2024-53-02Keywords:
Louis XVI, Old Order, monarchy, enlightened philosophers, French Revolution, social structure, social order, determinants of social change, emancipatory values, public opinion leadersAbstract
The article characterizes the French monarchy of the last quarter of the 18th century and its role in the events on the eve and during the French Revolution. Some characteristics of the French nobles of the Old Order society are highlighted, which, in particular, led to tectonic socio-political changes in France of that time. It is noted that Louis XVI had sufficient moral and professional virtues, but lacked the appropriate natural leadership qualities, primarily (according to R. Stogdill's theory of leadership traits) energy, self-confidence, perseverance, sociability, and readiness to take responsibility. Against the background of a kaleidoscope of other long-term and short-term events, this contributed to the emergence and spread of social conflicts in France and Europe as a whole in the middle and late 18th century. Attention is drawn to the fact that, together with other factors, such as: socio-political (lack of legitimate political rights for the vast majority of members of society, institutional instability, charismatic opposition, etc.), socio-cultural (fashion, emergence and spread of intellectual innovations, lack of opportunity for the realization of creative energy by a significant part of society), economic (food crisis, unemployment, high taxes), demographic (significant population growth), medical (spread of epidemics), climatic (drought), the mentioned individual characteristics of the French nobles caused a cumulative effect and were reflected in the aggravation of revolutionary events. Revolutionary processes, in turn, after some time led to the formation and development of the French political nation, the spread of liberal ideology and democratic values in Europe and the world as a whole. The direction of further scientific research on the selected issues is determined, primarily the concept of cultural relativism and, in view of this, the study of the increase/decrease in the influence of the charismatic component in the context of the activities of political leaders of the past and present.
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