Citizenship and Wars

The early years of democracy in France were marked by a society divided by civil war, class war and violent conflict. This study explores the concept of citizenship in a time of social and political upheaval, and considers what the conflict meant for citizen-soldiers, women, children and the elderly. This argument based on primary research brings new life to debates about the making of French identity in the 19th century. Putting the latest theoretical thinking into empirical use, the author assesses how the function of the state and its citizens changed during the Paris Commune and Franco-Prussian War. The study considers issues such as: how the people coped with the collapse of their government; what the upheaval meant for the provinces of France; how the issue of citizenship affected religious identities; and the differences between colonial Algeria and metropolitan France.

"This fascinating and original study investigates the meaning of citizenship during a period of violence, war, and civil war..."Citizenship and Wars has the makings of an attractive books for classroom use."-Leslie Page Moch, International Migration Review