Thesis defense by Amaury Giraud

Mr. Amaury Giraud defended his thesis entitled "Thinking about conservatism on the left: origins, past, present, and paradigmatic continuities of a unique political philosophy" on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.

Summary: In recent years, a new form of critical thinking seems to have emerged among intellectuals on the left in France, Europe, and even the United States. Largely based on a Marxist-style analytical foundation, a number of essayists and public figures are attempting, through their work and speeches, to develop an interpretation of the world that, in many respects, draws on the characteristics of conservative ideology. In order to understand and explain the mechanisms driving this hypothetical "movement," as well as to trace its historical and philosophical trajectory, we will draw on the work of numerous authors such as Charles Péguy, Simone Weil, George Orwell, Michel Clouscard, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Régis Debray, Jaime Semprun, Christopher Lasch, Jean-Claude Michéa, Paul Ariès, Michel Onfray, Denis Collin, Alain Finkielkraut, and many others. Although the question of the existence of a conservative left will be the guiding thread of our study, we will also examine conservative anti-liberalism, which we will contrast here with progressive anti-liberalism.

Summary: For a few years, a new critical thinking seems to have emerged among intellectuals on the left in France, Europe, and also in the United States. Mostly based on a Marxist point of view, many essayists and public figures are attempting to develop an analysis of the world that, to a greater or lesser extent, highlights the characteristics of conservative ideology. In an attempt to understand and explain the mechanisms that make this possible "movement" an operative one, and also to expose its historical and philosophical roots, we will use and quote many writers such as Charles Péguy, Simone Weil, George Orwell, Michel Clouscard, Pler Paolo Pasolini, Régis Debray, Jaime Semprun, Christopher Lasch, Jean-Claude Mlchéa, Paul Ariès, Michel Onfray, Denis Collin, Alain Finkielkraut, and many others. Even if the goal of our work will be to demonstrate the existence of a left-wing conservative political philosophy, we will also carry out an exegesis of conservative illiberalism, considered here as the opposite of progressive illiberalism.

Keywords: Conservatism, Left, Anti-liberalism, Socialism, Political margins, Marxism

Composition of the jury:

• Mr. Eric SAVARESE, University of Montpellier, Thesis Supervisor
• Mr. Alexandre VIALA, University of Montpellier, Co-supervisor
• Mr. Eric DESMONS, University of Paris XIII-Sorbonne Paris Nord, Rapporteur
• Mr. Patrick TROUDE-CHASTENET, University of Bordeaux, Rapporteur
• Mr. Bruno DAUGERON, Paris V – Descartes University, Examiner
• Mr. Alexandre DÉZÉ, University of Montpellier, Examiner