Research on the Social Transformation of Rural France: 19th to Early 20th Century

Author: Xu Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-07-01
Features: This book provides a comprehensive examination of French agricultural production, rural society, and the issues of farmers and nobles from the 19th to the early 20th century, revealing the profound impact of rural social transformation on France's political democratization process. The book explores the topic from three levels—agricultural production, rural society, and land nobility and farmers—comprising five chapters: "The Continuity of Tradition—French Agriculture in the Early 19th Century," "The Transformation of Modernity—French Agriculture from the Mid-19th Century to the Early 20th Century," "Disintegration and Transformation—French Rural Society and Farmers," "Resistance and Change—The Nobility in French Society," and "Differentiation and Integration—The Modernization of Social Structure." It not only describes the evolutionary process of how the French countryside adapted to the market structure, market form, and market economy system but also explores the changes in farmers' thoughts, character, ideas, and qualities under the conditions of a market economy, i.e., the transformation from traditional farmers into modern individuals. The book provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between the changes in farmers and France's social transformation, particularly its political modernization.