Philosophical Justification of Bonapartism by Napoleon III

Abstract

The article analyzes the leading social and philosophical ideas on which Louis Bonaparte, officially called Napoleon III after the proclamation of the Second Empire in France, relied in his political activity. Key concepts of Bonapartism are considered: stability, independence, equality, unity of all classes in the empire, political leader as an exponent of the people’s will, savior of the fatherland capable of establishing order in society. The article analyzes Napoleon III’s ideas about progress and popular sovereignty. Long before occupying the highest state post, he proposed to base the future constitution of the country on ”three authorities“: the people (to elect the head of state, to authorize his acts), the legislative corps, and the emperor. In criticizing Republican rule, he saw its flaw in defending undeserved privileges as seen throughout history, in his view. He attributed Napoleon I the idea of creating European confederation of free peoples, denying the widespread idea that the emperor sought to establish a worldwide monarchy. Referring to the difference in the characters of peoples, mores, and climatic conditions of different countries, he called for refusing to copy foreign institutions, English and American ones. France, according to Napoleon III, has its own path in history; according to his ideas, it should be at the head of the civilization movement. In an effort to chart this path, he spoke of equality, property, and religion as crucial elements of social being. Progress, in his opinion, requires a periodic revision of the legislation, therefore, the transformation of the empire from authoritarian to liberal could be interpreted not as a forced measure, but as a pre-planned political initiative.

Keywords:

Bonapartism, social philosophy, theory of popular sovereignty, forms of government, Napoleon III