Jeudi 19 décembre : Clara Dean, “Écossais et Écossaises à Paris au XVIIIe siècle”, Joelle Gorno, “Women’s involvement in Welsh local politics before the suffrage, 1869-1928”, et Balkis Mougou, “Populism and the Conservative Party: Tracing the Intellectual Roots of a Political Discourse (1974-2010)”
Clara Dean (Sorbonne Université) : “Écossais et Écossaises à Paris au XVIIIe siècle : circulations, interactions, intégration ?”
S’intéressant aux mobilités et migrations, cette communication se concentrera sur le cas des Écossais et Écossaises se rendant à Paris entre 1715 et 1793. L’analyse portera sur leurs motivations et trajectoires, ainsi que sur leur possible intégration dans la société parisienne. Une attention particulière sera accordée aux journaux de voyage, sources particulièrement précieuses pour cette étude.
Joelle Gorno (Sorbonne Université), “A voice before the vote: Women’s involvement in Welsh local politics before the suffrage, 1869-1928”
In the fifty years prior to the Representation of the People Act 1928, securing universal suffrage for over twenty-one year olds, male and female, across the United Kingdom, Welsh women’s involvement in local politics proved significant. There are three major dimensions in which Welsh women were active prior to being granted the vote on a national scale; firstly participating in local government and elections, secondly as full members on school boards, and lastly, as Poor Law guardians. These achievements were made possible thanks to the passing of legislation in the second half of the nineteenth century, making slight reforms towards gender equality in the public sphere.
Who were these female activists? Some were wives of politicians and ministers, others industrialists, nurses or teachers. Though many were certainly from the middle and upper classes, there has been proof of some working-class involvement, which is to be expected considering Wales’ vast working-class population. Though many of these women faced prejudice and discrimination for their sex, and almost all of them were ostracised and ridiculed by the press, they continued to push for change. Established Victorian attitudes to women’s role in society were being challenged and the idea that women could be significant participants in political activity was put in place.
Balkis Mougou (CY Cergy Paris Université / Université de Bourgogne), “Populism and the Conservative Party: Tracing the Intellectual Roots of a Political Discourse (1974-2010)”
The Conservative Party has been shaped by a number of controversial figures whose ideologies align with populist tendencies, significantly influencing the party’s direction and political discourse. A shared stream of ideas has united these politicians, offering the party a new perspective that can be retrospectively characterized as populist. This ongoing research investigates the emergence and evolution of populist discourse within the Conservative Party in the UK, focusing on the period from 1974 to 2010.
Situated at the crossroads of the history of political ideas and political science, this research aims to uncover the intellectual roots of a distinct form of populism unique to the British Conservative Party. By analyzing key speeches, policies, and political strategies, the study will offer a fresh, historically expansive view of how these ideas evolved into a populist dimension. Drawing on contemporary theories of populism, this thesis will provide new insights into the role of populism in shaping the modern Conservative Party, shedding light on how populist narratives have transformed the party’s political identity.