Running Head: FRENCH EVOLUTION IDEOLOGIES

French Evolution Ideologies

Student’s Name

Institution Affiliation

FRENCH EVOLUTION IDEOLOGIES 2

Introduction

The article denoted that there were three steps in the French revolution that brought the

people to the forefront of politics. He considered that the revolution set a model for later

revolutions and changed the political dimension or map of Europe forever. The author also stated

that intellectuals were there creating social change. Philosophers such as Voltaire, Locke,

Montesquieu and Rousseau brought the spirit of nobility by informing the masses and improving

their intellect.

Overall Summation

Montesquieu: The author considered that the mind claimed that constitutional monarchy

was one of the best systems of the government for the individual who prized freedom. He also

acknowledged that he supports the division of countries based on the center of power.

Montesquieu believed that the revolution offered permanent checks and balances by believing

that freedom was unconstrained in undertaking what one chooses to handle as it as the law

supports it. His ideas influenced both Honoré Gabriel Riqueti and compte de Mirabeau one of the

leading revolutionists.

Rousseau: The authors depicts him as one who denoted the French Revolution as a

furnished revolutionary disclosure. This intellect also stated that social contract expounded the

Republicans’ theories. He said that people could only be set free by the society if they ruled

themselves out. He also recommended that the cult of civil religion be created in place of

Christianity.

Voltaire/Locke: Voltaire was inspired by Locke hence they shared the same values and

arguments about French Revolution. They were attracted to political ideas if philosophers such

as Francis Bacon; he proclaimed the doctrine that science could support individuals. Voltaire and

FRENCH EVOLUTION IDEOLOGIES 3

Locke second the enlarged sovereign right of power at the expense of the rights of the church,

courts, and Parliament. Locke also developed the doctrine of enlightened absolutism; in the

imperial phase. They both considered that the independence of the country is in the hands of the

monarch. Voltaire is proclaimed to be the servant of English philosophers who never cared for

democracy since he considered that most people were hopelessly enlightened.

Author's Assertion on Leadership Models

I agree that change in the leadership model means that there will be a change in the

ideologies. Any change in leadership model suggests a different approach to governance and

management of such undertaking (French Revolution). It is evident that if the philosophers were

able to interest a greater part of the day in researching on various type of leadership models, then

there could be various ideologies on the French revolution. It is considered that better leadership

models can impact reasoning hence chance he ideology of how the intellectual would link about

leadership and governance as opposed to recent thoughts on the same.

Napoleon and Imperial Phase

A content that Cranston’s was in order when he said that Napoleon distanced himself

from ideals of science and freedom in the imperial phase. He considered the king as the only

person of the time that took the ideas of Voltaire. However, he also altered the Voltaire’s theory

of enlightened absolutism in a way that even Voltaire could not accept. Cranston ideology on the

king was compelling because it had a science of lack of leadership skills in it.

Conclusion

FRENCH EVOLUTION IDEOLOGIES 4

I consider that the article was credible because it compared the past civil wars to the

contemporary political tensions. It also explains the virtue of having a good leadership model

because it not only transforms reasoning but also changes democracy ideologies.