How do republics die? In this course we examine the demise of two consequential republics, those of revolutionary France and of Weimar Germany.
The French republic arose in the same era as the American republic as part of a broad “Atlantic revolution.” Yet while the American republic flourished, the French republic collapsed within ten years, toppled by Napoléon Bonaparte, who established an authoritarian regime in its place.
The republic founded in Germany in the aftermath of the First World War endured in difficult circumstances until the electoral victory of the Nazi Party created the opportunity for its destruction, barely fourteen years after its founding.
In this course, we will examine each republic individually and comparatively. We will delve into the origins of each republic, analyzing their precedents, their values, and the specific circumstances that shaped their founding. Additionally, we will explore the personalities and events that contributed to their downfall and the consequences that ensued.