The State Is Learning From Fascism –
Sarkozy is Using Du Maurras
November 20, 2005
We have always disagreed with those who say that Sarkozy is like a little
Napoleon.
For history is not made by great men, but by the masses.
Thinking in terms of individuals means staying at the level of Matthieu
Kassovitz, who sees Sarkozy as a new Bush, as an “incompetent” person who
does not know what he is doing:
“The Minister of the Interior, and possible future president, says things
that not only reveal his lack of experience in politics and human relations
(which are closely related), but which also reveal the purely demagogic and
egocentric side of a little Napoleon in training.” (Matthieu Kassovitz’s blog)
This is not true.
Sarkozy is extremely competent. He carries with him the best, which is to
say the worst, traditions of the bourgeiosie.
Those who still doubt this can look at his most recent statements. He makes
clear references to the French fascist tradition.
For instance, he says : “Never before have I felt there was such a deep
chasm between the virtual country as it is described in one article after
another, and the real country (…) I wanted to base myself on the real country,
which understood perfectly well that we were at the moment of truth.”
The concept of the “real country” is one that was developed by the royalist
theoretician and anti-Semite Charles Maurras.
The “real country” is the French families, who carry with them a moral and
material legacy which must be preserved.
The “real country” is the political world, which occasionally must be put
back in its place.
Sarkozy takes up this concept which has been used by the bourgeoisie to
justify its reactionary policies, to justify fascism, that puts aside all
those aspects that are still “democratic.”
Fascism puts aside electoral questions, instead finding its justification
in the streets, by the violence of the middle classes who are victims of the
crisis, with their fascist culture and their militias.
Sarkozy is using the same approach. He is calling on the “profound France.”
“All throughout these three weeks, I have been able to stand my ground because
I have felt the support of millions of people like you.”
“What is going on in our neighbourhoods is absolutely critical to the future
of our country.”
“We have to make profound changes to our country, we have to break with
a political, social and economic system that for thirty years has produced
little but unemployment, debt, and paralysis. This is why I am calling for
change.”
Sakozy is not the cause, but rather is the consequence of a class struggle
so intense that it has forced the bourgeoisie to drop its “democratic” mask
to protect its interests, and to demand that the middle classes take action
against the people.
Those who still had illusions about the nature of the State should give
them up now and join the struggle!
Another “politics” is not possible – the clash is one of class against class!
Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist Maoist), November
2005
Please note that the above text about the past week’s
riots in Clichy-Sous-Bois come from the website of the Communist Party
(Marxist-Leninist Maoist) in France and translated by yours truly. I have
a “fast and loose” translation philosophy, meaning that when there is a choice
between readability and the original phraseology i tend to favour the former,
provided that the meaning stays the same. The original document can be seen in French.
This originally came from my blog - Sketchy Thoughts
- and is one of a number of pieces i wrote or translated regarding the
riots that rocked France in October and November 2005. To see the a complete
list of such posts, i suggest you check out the 2005 Riots In France page on the Kersplebedeb
site.