Tilly’s Old and New Repertoires of Contention

Patronized

Autonomous

OrientationTo

Powerholders

Scope of Action

Local National

festivalcharivari/serenadeseizure of grainfield invasionturnout

expulsion

strike

election rallypublic meeting

demonstrationsocial movement

OLD

NEW

Source: Tilly 1986, p. 395

Tilly’s French Periods, 1598-1986

• - a long seventeenth century, from 1598-1715, in which challenges were primarily aimed at the expanding national government,

• - a shorter eighteenth century that ends with the revolution of 1789, in which challenges were primarily aimed at the encroachment of capitalist property relations on traditional rights and privileges,

• - a longer nineteenth century (1789-1906) characterized by protracted class conflict and revolutionary struggle, during which time the new repertoire became established,

• - a twentieth century (1906-present) in which the struggles continue but the scale of capital accumulation, coercion, and contention increase.

French Revolutionary Struggle, 1789-1871

• 14 July 1789: French Revolution; First Republic.

• 1792: Louis XVI guillotined--Reign of Terror.

• 1794: leaders of Reign of Terror executed.

• 1795: royalist revival opposed by General Bonaparte; war

with Prussia, Spain, Holland, England, and Austria

• 1799: Napoleon elected Consul.• 1802: Napoleon declared emperor for

life.• 1804: Emperorship declared

hereditary.• 1815: Napoleon exiled (defeat at

Waterloo); Louis XVIII (Louis XVI's brother) named

(Bourbon) King

• 1830: Charles X (Bourbon King) obliged to abdicate;

• Louis Phillipe (Duke of Orleans) named King (in July)

• 1848: Revolution; Second Republic in February

• June 1848: socialist movement/rebellion crushed.

• December 1848: Louis Napoleon (nephew of Napoleon I) Bonaparte elected

president.• 1851: Bonaparte assumes dictatorial

power; is re-elected for ten years.

• 1852: Second Empire (by popular vote); Louis Napoleon; (Napoleon III reigns).

French Revolutionary Struggle (continued)

• 1859: victories in Crimean and Austrian wars

• 1866-69: defeats in Prussian-Austrian War;

• 1870: Defeat in Prussian War; Third Republic declared

• 1871: German Empire established; Empire claims Alsace and Lorraine; German troops enter Paris in triumph but leave after two days; Thiers was elected president of the Third Republic

• March 1871: as Germans retreat, popular uprising establishes the Commune, which ruled Paris until May,

• May 1871: Thiers (with Army) repressed the Commune.

Characteristics of repertoires of popular collective action in France, 1650-1980 (Tilly 1986:392-3)

• General Characteristics

• Use of authorities’ normal means of action, as caricature or temporary assumption of authorities’ prerogative in the name of the community

• Tendency to participate as members of representatives of constituted corporate groups and communities rather than special interests

• Tendency to appeal to powerful patrons for redress of wrongs or representation to outside authorities

• Extensive use of authorized public celebrations and assemblies to present grievances and demands

• Repeated adoption of rich, irreverent symbolism: effigies and ritual objects

• Convergence on the residence of wrongdoer or sites of wrongdoing, as opposed to seats and symbols of public power

1650-1850: Parochial and Patronized

• Examples

• Seizure of grain (food riots)

• Invasion of forbidden fields, forests, streams

• Destruction of tollgates and other barriers

• Attacks on machines

• Serenades (rough music)

• Expulsion of tax collectors, foreign workers, other outsiders

• Rowdy holiday parades

• Inter-village battles

• Sacking private homes

• Popular courts

• Turnouts

Characteristics of repertoires of popular collective action in France, 1650-1980

1650-1850: Parochial and Patronized

Characteristics of repertoires of popular collective action in France, 1650-1980

1850-1980: National and autonomous

• General Characteristics

• Use of relatively autonomous means of action, or a kind rarely or never employed by authorities

• Tendency to participate as members of representatives of special interests and named associations or pseudo-associations (e.g., Coalition for Justice)

• Tendency to challenge rivals or authorities, especially national authorities and their representatives, directly rather than through appeals to patrons

• Deliberate organization of assemblies for articulation of claims

• Display of progams, slogans, signs or common membership

• Preference for action in visible public places

Characteristics of repertoires of popular collective action in France, 1650-1980

1850-1980:National and autonomous

• Examples

• Strikes

• Demonstrations

• Electoral Rallies

• Public meetings

• Petition marches

• Planned insurrections

• Invasion of official assemblies

• Social movements

• Electoral campaigns

Social Change in Western Europe, 1600-1900

• 1688: English (Glorious) Revolution

• 1776: American Revolution

• 1789: French Revolution

• 1848: Revolutionary Struggles throughout Europe (especially Germany and France)

• 1861: American Civil War

• 1871: Prussian-German War produces German Empire

Old and New Repertoires of Contention in U.S., 1752-1996

Patronized

Autonomous

OrientationTo

Powerholders

Scope of Action

Local National

anti-proprietor revolts: 1652-1691militia rebellions: 1676-1691festivals: Stamp Act of 1765tax revolts: 1765-1794food riots: 1713-1837tenants’ rebellions: 1745-1766squatters’ rebellions: 1782-1850slave rebellions: 1663-1860vigilantism: 1771-1865

expulsion:1765-1861boycotts: 1765-presentcooperatives: 1870-present

strike

election rallypublic meeting

demonstrationsocial movement

OLD

NEW

U.S. Periodization, 1620-present

• Colonial America: 1620-1765

• Colonial Revolt: 1765-1815

• National Period: 1815-1861

• Revolutionary Struggles: 1861-1946

• Consolidation/Increase in Scale: 1946-present