Jules Favre: political views and activities of the "blue" Republican in France of the XIX century

Abstract

Jules Favre (1809-1880) is one of the «founding fathers» of the Third Republic in France, who contributed much to the formation of the republican tradition in Hexagone. In the Russian historiography hasn’t appeared yet a special study devoted to the political views and activities of Jules Favre. In the article Jules Favre is considered as a prominent figure of the republican movement in France of the XIX century, who played an important role in the struggle for the establishment of the republican system in France. The July Revolution of 1830 was a big influence on the formation of Favre's political views. During the years of the Second Republic Favre took an important place among moderate "blue" Republicans who linked the future of the republic with general Cavaignac. The article refutes the point of view established in Russian historiography that Emile Ollivier from the very beginning headed the liberal "five" opposition deputies during the Second Empire. The article shows that the strategic mistakes made as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Defense during negotiations with Bismarck’s Prussia, drew a line under Favre's political career and created a partly negative image of this politician in historiography. This article is based on a wide range of sources: various speeches and writings by J. Favre, as well as memoirs, diaries and correspondence of his contemporaries.