A Reactionary Dimension in Progressive Revolutionary Theories? - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2010

A Reactionary Dimension in Progressive Revolutionary Theories?

Résumé

According to the political theorist Andrew Heywood, reaction is a political term generally used to refer to three different expressions of conservative thought: opposition to any change or innovation so as to preserve the existing order in the name of traditions and customs inherited from the past; desire to reform the existing order so as to protect it from destruction; desire to change or destroy the existing order so as to restore the vestiges of a prestigious past. However, owing to the fact that any thorough analysis of radically progressive theories will reveal some chapters celebrating a bygone mythical and glorious past used as a vindication – among others – of any movement for the establishment a new order or society, one may wonder to what extent progressive revolutionary theories are imbued with a reactionary dimension. With a view to discussing the above issue the present paper will explore some aspects of the revolutionary theories drawn up by the Irish historical figure, James Connolly (1868-1916), whose socialism was based on the idea of re-converting Ireland to the Celtic system of common ownership. And in so doing it will not fail to separate myth from reality as for Connolly's use of Celtic Ireland in the theoretical expression of his progressive revolutionary designs.

Domaines

Histoire
Fichier non déposé

Dates et versions

hal-00570688 , version 1 (28-02-2011)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-00570688 , version 1

Citer

Olivier Coquelin. A Reactionary Dimension in Progressive Revolutionary Theories?: The Case of James Connolly's Socialism Founded on the Re-Conversion of Ireland to the Celtic System of Common Ownership. Twenty-Eighth Annual Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Oct 2008, United States. pp.14-27. ⟨hal-00570688⟩
64 Consultations
0 Téléchargements

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More