The book explores the concept of divergent state-formation as a key to understanding the variations in regional and national states. Birnbaum presents a detailed analysis that challenges conventional views, emphasizing how different historical and social contexts shape the development of states. Through this lens, the author examines the complexities of state-building processes and their implications for political and social structures.
Léon Blum (1872–1950) was many things: a socialist and political activist, leader of the Popular Front; a dedicated statesman who served as France's prime minister three times; a hero who courageously opposed anti-Semitism, Nazi aggression, and the pro-German Vichy government; a passionate lover of women, art, and life. A tireless champion for workers' rights, Blum dramatically changed French society by establishing the forty-hour work week, paid holidays, and collective bargaining on wage claims. He was also a proud Jew and Zionist, and a survivor who endured the horrors of Buchenwald and Dachau. Unlike previous biographies that downplay the significance of Blum's Jewish heritage on his progressive politics, Pierre Birnbaum's enlightening portrait depicts an extraordinary man whose political convictions were shaped and driven by his religious and cultural background. The author powerfully demonstrates how Blum's Jewishness was central to his milieu and mission from his earliest entry into the political arena in reaction to the infamous Dreyfus Affair, and how it sustained and motivated him throughout the remainder of his life.
Focusing on the Franco-Jewish political and administrative elite, the book explores the roles of various influential figures, including generals, politicians, judges, and prefects, from the late 19th century through the Vichy regime. It offers a unique perspective on their contributions and challenges during a tumultuous period in French history, shedding light on the intersection of Jewish identity and public service in a time of rising antisemitism.
Pierre Birnbaum offers a timely reconsideration of the tear-stained pages of Jewish history and the persistence of antisemitism.
L'Etat est-il la seule forme possible de centre politique dans les sociétés modernes ? Peut-il être adapté à toutes les sociétés, notamment à celles où se manifeste un réveil des cultures autochtones ? Faut-il le considérer, en définitive, comme le produit de l'Histoire ou d'une certaine histoire bien particulière? La crise du modèle étatique dans nos pays, tout comme les difficultés que ce modèle trouve à s'imposer dans le tiers monde, donnent à ces questions une brûlante actualité.Brassant de riches matériaux historiques et théoriques, Bertrand Badie et Pierre Birnbaum jettent les bases d'une nouvelle théorie sociologique de l'Etat.