Description:
When not at war, armies are often used to control civil disorders, especially in eras of rapid social change and unrest. But in nineteenth century Europe, without the technological advances of modern armies and police forces, an army's only advantages were discipline and organization--and in the face of popular opposition to the regime in power, both could rapidly deteriorate. Such was the case in France after the Napoleonic Wars, where a cumulative recent history of failure weakened an already fragile army's ability to keep the peace.
After the February 1848 overthrow of the last king of France, the new republican government proved remarkably resilient, retaining power while pursuing moderate social policies despite the concerted efforts of a variety of radical and socialist groups. These efforts took numerous forms, ranging from demonstrations to attempted coups to full-scale urban combat, and culminated in the crisis of the June Days. At stake was the future of French government and the social and economic policy of France at large. In Controlling Paris, Jonathan M. House offers us a study of revolution from the viewpoint of the government rather than the revolutionary. It is not focused on military tactics so much as on the broader issues involved in controlling civil disorders: relations between the government and its military leaders, causes and social issues of public disorder, political loyalty of troops in crisis, and excessive use of force to control civil disorders. Yet somehow, despite all these disadvantages, the French police and armed forces prevented regime change far more often than they failed to do so.Brief description: Jonathan M. House is William A. Stofft Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College. His previous books include Combined Arms Warfare in the 20th Century; A Military History of the Cold War, 1944-1962; and, with David M. Glantz, When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler.
Review Quotes: "In France between July 1789 and June 1848, power all too often grew out of the barrel of a gun. Crucial in holding or seizing power was control of the capital city, Paris. In this pioneering and thoroughly researched book, Jonathan M. House shows for the first time the problems on both sides of the barricades, as individuals grappled with the dilemmas of using or not using deadly force. He has made a major contribution to our understanding of the instability and violence that were part of Frances experience for over half a century of revolutions."--Robert Tombs, University of Cambridge