Environmental themes in French literature and politics of the 1930s
[Thesis]
Drugan, Joanna Marie
University of Glasgow
1999
Ph.D.
University of Glasgow
1999
The politicisation of environmentalism (the founding of green parties and permanent national and international campaigning organisations) was quickly followed by an attempt to identify the roots of the movement, In France, this search has had a comparatively narrow focus. That is, the origins of French green politics have generally been identified in either the science of ecology, or events of the late 1960s, when 'green' movements began to become more obviously political. This thesis will argue that, as Anglo-Saxon authors have already claimed, the origins of modern environmental politics are in fact more diverse. There is a remarkable degree of shared ground between modern environmental politics and certain points in the history of France, particularly the 1930s. In order to demonstrate the links between the two, the politics, literature and ideas prominent in the 1930s in France will be examined and contrasted to key themes now stressed by green political movements, both in France and elsewhere.