Zizek posits the terror that robespierre became, somewhat unfairly, the face of as a prime example of what walter benjamin would have called divine violence, sometimes translated as sovereign fascinating anthology of speeches by the most controversial leader of the french revolution. Bibliography includes bibliographical references p. Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the gathering of the cabalcompromised revolutionaries, schemers, embezzlers, corrupted politiciansthat came together to destroy robespierre on 9 thermidor. Just sort of taking a survey of opinions of maximilien robespierre. This film combines drama, archive and documentary interviews to examine robespierres year in charge of the committee of public safety the powerful state machine at the heart of revolutionary france. When, in 1953, chou en lai, the chinese prime minister, was in geneva for the peace negotiations to end the korean war, a french journalist asked him what does he think about the french revolution. In this dazzling new series, philosopher and cultural critic slavoj zizek interrogates key writings on revolution. Two centuries after the french revolution, maximilien robespierre is still regarded as its towering figure. We have new and used copies available, in 2 editions. It has an extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents.
In 1794, french revolutionary maximilien robespierre produced the worlds first defense of state terror claiming that the road to virtue lay through political violence. I guess it could be said that you need to first read a book all about robespierre and his life and thought and then read something like this, but il like it if someone with just a basic knowledge of the man the the period. Enjoyment as a political factor radical thinkers by slavoj zizek20080117. Virtud y terror by zizek, slavoj and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. After the national constituent assembly drafted the national constitution in 1791, the legislative assemblys inability to establish a functioning constitutional monarchy divided france socially and politically. Dont get me wrong, i still think the french revolution was a disaster, a massively overblown response to legitimate grievances against the ancien regime. Zizek takes a helterskelter route through these contradictions, marshalling all the breadth of analogy for which he is famous.
On 18 floreal may 7th 1794 maximilien robespierre addressed the national convention, summarised the course of the revolution and explained the relationship between virtue and terror. Control of france passed to the committee of public safety, which robespierre was a member of. Robespierre wanted a revolution, he wanted change and he, without a doubt brought it to france. Personally, i think he played an extremely important role in ushering in the modern world, creating what was perhaps the most radically left wing government in a major state until the soviet union. Robespierre and the french revolutiontonight, bbc2. Virtue and terror maximilien robespierre, jean ducange, john howe, slavoj zizek robespierre s justification of the terror in the french revolution robespierre s defence of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written. Robespierre was the power and change france needed right up until the very end and no matter what the people did to him, said to him, or thought of him, he kept to his goals for france. Summary robespierres defense of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written, and has extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents.
Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. He is a professor of philosophy at the european graduate school egs, a senior researcher at the institute for sociology and philosophy at the university of ljubljana, global distinguished professor of german at new york university, international director of the birkbeck institute for the humanities, and founder and. Robespierre, maximilien, ducange, jean, zizek, slavoj, howe, john. In fact, some historians have argued that the rottenness at the core of the. Zizek has recently tried to pull a sleight of hand by stressing that violence means other stuff too. Robespierre, during the struggle against the gironde, had once famously stated that, virtue was always in a minority upon earth. Peter mcphees new book is a steady, scholarly attempt to get behind the bloodred mist and see robespierres features in a more ordinary light. About virtue and terror robespierre s defense of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written, and has extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents.
Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, 9781844675845, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. So how should a contemporary audience approach robespierre s vindication of revolutionary terror. Having recently finished ruth scurrs biography on robespierre, fatal purity, i have had my world turned upside down on the actions of robespierre and the course of the french revolution. Virtue and terror, journal for eighteenthcentury studies, 34. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, slavoj zizek. Maximilien robespierre maximilien robespierre slavoj zizek ebook. Like most revolutions, the popular uprising in france in 1789 contained within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, jean ducange. Robespierres defense of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written, and has extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents. This title is not eligible for purchase to earn points nor for redemption with your code in the reader rewards program. Perceived by some as the champion, indeed the incarnation, of the revolutions purest and noblest ideals, among others he will always be remembered as the reasoned advocate of the terror, the defender of mass killing during the revolutions darkest and most tragic phase.
Robespierre on virtue and terror 1794 alpha history. Buy virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, jean ducange editor, john howe translator online at alibris. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, slavoj zizek isbn. In his response to critics, zizek notes that the actions of ghandi were far more violent than stalin because they were more disruptive to the status quo. I was introduced to robespierre through my a level history course, and ive found these speeches, and also the highly thoughtprovoking introduction in the book to through the speeches introduced by slavoj zizek, one can begin to understand the mindset, and reasoning provided behind the great slaughter of french people during the 17931794. While this can certainly be a valid interpretation of violence, this video also seems to verify that zizek is cool with straightup. It is time to mark clearly the aim of the revolution and the end toward which we wish to move. Maximilien robespierre is one of the bestknown and most influential figures of the french revolution. He had once been a fairly straightforward liberal thinker reputedly he slept with a copy of rousseaus social contract at his side. He was instrumental in the period of the revolution commonly known as the reign of terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794.
Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, paperback. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The level of analyses is now at a level where maximilien robespierre, joseph stalin and mao zedong are held in the same contempt as chenghiz khan, adolf hitler and osama bin laden. If the spring of popular government in time of peace is virtue, the. Robespierre was gaining support rapidly and was quickly becoming the dominant force on the committee. Yet today the french revolution is celebrated as the event which gave birth to a nation built on the principles of enlightenment. So how should a contemporary audience approach robespierres vindication of revolutionary terror.
Maximilien robespierre archives download free ebook. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The committee of public safety began the reign of terror, in which they killed anyone who was considered an enemy of the revolution. Slavoj zizek robespierre or the divine violence of terror. Yet today, the french revolution is celebrated as the event which gave birth to a nation built on the principles of enlightenment. Id rather have more explanation, more a sense of what the circumstances were when each piece was written and more explanation of the choices robespierre was making. English translation excerpt of the text transcript of maximilien robespierres political morality speech, also called virtue of terror, delivered before the national convention in paris, france february 5, 1794. The historical life of maximilien robespierres reign of.
Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre overdrive. Slavoj zizek is a slovenian philosopher and cultural critic. Virtue and terror maximilien robespierre, jean ducange. Zizek writes it seems for someone who already understands a lot of robespierre and the period, so not so much as an introduction but a postscript.
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