Interwar France Historiography

Which historian blames the instability on the structure of the government?

Julian Jackson – France’s instability was structural: coalition politics and polarisation crippled democracy.

Historian views on the Popular Front

Serge Berstein – Popular Front represented “the last great defence of French democracy.”

Whereas, Charles Sowerwine agrees that the Popular Front blocked the arrival of fascism but "failed to make the great changes its supporters anticipated and left many ordinary French people deeply disillusioned."

This is reflected by Tony Judt – Popular Front reforms were symbolically important, but economically unsustainable.

Which historian criticises France’s economy as the reason for their Great Depression losses?

Stanley Hoffmann – Economic backwardness and small-scale capitalism left France vulnerable in the Depression.

Historian view on why authoritarian sentiment surfaced

Robert Paxton – The failures of the 1930s explain why many accepted authoritarianism in 1940.

Historian view on the extent of authoritarianism in France

Kevin Passmore – Right-wing leagues exploited disillusionment but never matched fascist mass movements in Italy/Germany.