Bonapartism

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"From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."

Bonapartism is an Authoritarian Unity and culturally center ideology based on the beliefs of Napoleon Bonaparte and his followers and successors. in the strict sense, it aims to establish an imperial regime in France at the head of which would be placed a member of the family of Napoleon Bonaparte, and in the broadest sense, it aims to establish a nation-state with a strong and centralized executive which is authoritarian and largely undemocratic but relied on plebiscites to rise to power both times. Bonapartism is a very big tent ideology; Napoleon III once commented on the ideological diversity of his court, saying "The Empress is a Legitimist, Morny is an Orléanist, Prince Napoleon is a Republican, and I myself am a Socialist. There is only one Bonapartist, Persigny - and he is mad!"

History

After the death of Maximilien Robespierre, the French Directory controlled France. This government was extremely unpopular, so a young Corsican boy by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the government and proclaimed himself the First Consul. Then eventually, as he protected France and expanded his borders, he gained more and more popularity and therefore crowned himself as Emperor.

Beliefs

Economic Beliefs

Napoleon Bonaparte's economic beliefs were pragmatic and aimed at consolidating power and promoting national prosperity. He implemented key economic reforms to modernize and stabilize the French economy. The creation of the Banque de France in 1800 demonstrated his commitment to financial stability. Napoleon also introduced the Napoleonic Code in 1804, providing a comprehensive legal framework that promoted property rights, contractual freedom, and legal equality. While these reforms fostered economic development, Napoleon's policies also had a militaristic component, as he saw economic strength as crucial for military success. The Continental System, an economic blockade against Britain, exemplified his geopolitical approach to economic strategy, attempting to weaken a major rival.

Geopolitical Beliefs:

Napoleon's geopolitical beliefs were driven by a desire for French dominance in Europe. His expansionist policies were often justified under the banner of spreading revolutionary ideals leading to the establishment of the French Empire through military conquests. The Napoleonic Wars aimed at restructuring Europe to serve French interests, and his vision of a Continental System sought to isolate and weaken Britain economically. Napoleon's geopolitical strategies were pragmatic, combining military might with diplomatic maneuvering to maintain French dominance. The failure of the Russian campaign and subsequent military defeats ultimately led to the decline of his geopolitical influence.

Cultural Beliefs:

Napoleon's cultural beliefs were a blend of revolutionary ideals and pragmatic adaptations to his conservative climate. While he initially positioned himself as a defender of the French Revolution, emphasizing principles like liberty and equality, he also recognized the need for social order and stability inside a majority catholic population. The Napoleonic Code codified key revolutionary principles. Napoleon sought to create a sense of French national identity through the spread of French culture and institutions across the territories he controlled. His policies often aimed at assimilating conquered regions into a unified French identity, reflecting a cultural imperialism to strengthen the cohesion of the French Empire.

Philosophical Beliefs:

Philosophically, Napoleon was a pragmatist who prioritized effective governance over strict adherence to ideology. While he initially aligned with some revolutionary principles, he later abandoned the republican experiment and declared himself Emperor. His decision to reconcile with the Catholic Church through the Concordat in 1801 was a recognition of the need for social stability and religious reconciliation. Napoleon sympathized with some Enlightenment ideals but was willing to compromise for the sake of political expediency. His philosophical beliefs were characterized by a belief in strong, centralized governance, where power was consolidated in the hands of a capable leader – a concept often associated with the pragmatic Machiavellian tradition.

Personality

Bonapartism supports the Enlightenment and supports spreading its values everywhere, however; he is also a pragmatist and thus doesn't support too much radical change.

He wants to usurp the throne of Spain & really hates Russia for some reason.

Bonapartism as a pejorative

In modern times, the term "Bonapartism" has been used more generally for a political movement that advocates an authoritarian centralized state, with a strongman charismatic leader based on anti-elitist rhetoric, army support, as well as conservatism. Within leftists circles, Bonapartism is used to describe counter-revolutionary authoritarian leaders that use leftist, anti-capitalist, or anti-imperialist rhetoric as means to gain support from the masses but once in power rule like an emperor for life and revert the gains of the revolution to benefit themselves and a new caste of elites.

Bonapartism is often seen as the precursor to various Fascist ideologies espoused by the likes of Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, and Oswald Mosley.

Leaders and political figures. that aren't clearly left or right may be referred to as Bonapartists. This includes US senator and governor of Louisiana Huey Long, Argentine dictator Juan Perón, former Prime Minister of Thailand and exiled billionaire, Thaksin Shinawatra, etc. All aforementioned politicians combined policies that are associated with both the left and right while using authoritarian tactics to maintain power.

Bonapartism is often used by many leftists including Marxists, anarchists, Trotskyists, and left communists, to describe anti-communist authoritarian socialists such as Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ne Win, Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad, Yasser Arafat, etc, who all explicitly rejected Marxist class struggle in favor of class collaborationism and actively banned or persecuted domestic left-wing movements while also being allied to the Soviet Union, which some would argue was itself an elitist Bonapartist regime of its own.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is sometimes described as a Bonapartist leader with a Napoleon Complex due to his ability to gain support from people on the left and the far-right alike, despite maintaining and strengthening Russia's oligarchic system for his own benefit at the expense of the Russian (and Ukrainian) working class.

How to Draw

The design of Bonapartism is based around two symbols - the flag and coat of arms of the First French Empire.

Flag of Bonapartism
  1. Draw a ball
  2. Make the French flag by coloring the ball navy blue-white-red with three vertical bands
  3. Add two golden staffs crossed diagonally in the center white band
  4. On top of the staffs draw a cobalt blue shield with a golden eagle in the middle
  5. Add a golden necklace around the shield, going from the upper sides to the bottom
  6. Draw a crowned gold knight helmet on top of the shield
  7. From the helmet, draw golden wavy stripes going to the sides
  8. Draw the ball wearing a black Bicorne, brimmed with yellow and fitted with a maroon-white-blue cockade
  9. Add the two eyes

You're done!

Color Name HEX RGB
Navy Blue #002654 0, 38, 84
White #FFFFFF 255, 255, 255
Red #CE1126 206, 17, 38
Cobalt Blue #004995 0, 73, 149
Gold #D7B93C 215, 185, 60
Maroon #AE0000 174, 0, 0
Yellow #FFC400 255, 196, 0
Black #161616 22, 22, 22


Relationships

Amis (Friends)

  • Enlightened Absolutism - Has great ideas.
  • Machiavellianism - How I came into power and how I maintain it.
  • Imperialism - The French empire will spread the revolution worldwide! VIVE L'EMPEREUR!
  • Meritocracy - I love Meritocracy and helped it become a part of Europe.
  • Nietzscheanism - Nietzsche believed that I am a higher human.
  • Monarcho-Socialism - Napoleon III liked you.
  • Regulationism - “My glory is not that I won forty battles and dictated the law to kings… Waterloo wipes out the memory of all my victories… But what will be wiped out by nothing and will live forever is my Civil Code.”
  • Elective Monarchism - The people of France voted for my dynasty twice in a totally not rigged referendum. I get my power from the military the people, not divine right.
  • Industrialism - I made France a great industrial power.

Neutre (Neutral)

  • Catholic Theocracy - Our relationship was more than complicated, I restored you in France and brought back some of your functions but we were at odds constantly, for which you excommunicated me. In the end, we reconciled and I became a Catholic once more till my death.
  • Nationalism - I support Corsica and was bullied for it, but became a French emperor!!!
  • Republicanism - I am the true successor to the revolution!
  • Constitutionalism - "A Constitution should be short and obscure"
  • Classical Liberalism, Enlightenment Thought - The people shall have rights, but shall not have the vote!
  • Integral Nationalism - I love France too but why don't you like the Enlightenment?
  • Jacobinism - I used to be one of you, but everything after you did was a terrible idea!
  • Marxism–Leninism - I mostly like what I see here, but what's with this anti-imperialism talk?
  • Reactionary Socialism - Good direction overall, but why feudalism? Imperialism is good, but crusadism?
  • Fascism - Why do you admire me?
  • Nazism - You visited my grave?[1] Dammit, that Austrian painter took the French onions.
  • Islamic Theocracy - While Muhammad was a great man, France cannot accommodate your model. At least you also throw them in the trash.
  • Reactionaryism - Jacobins say I'm you, some of you hate me, while others support me. But no matter what you or they say, I'm a modernizing force who destroyed the old order. That being said, I did restore the Church and I did end the arguably liberal Thermidorians.

Ennemis (Enemies)

    • Well, yeah.


Further Information

Wikipedia

Videos

Gallery

Portraits

  • Napoleon's Imperial Standard

    Napoleon's Imperial Standard

Artwork and Comics

Navigation


  1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/2jo5pn/adolf_hitler_visits_the_tomb_of_napoleon_at_les/
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