french history of the last ten years

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French History in the Last Twenty Years: The Rise and Fall of the Annales ParadigmAuthor(s): Lynn Hunt

Source: Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 21, No. 2, Twentieth Anniversary Issue (Apr.,1986), pp. 209-224Published by: Sage Publications, Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/260364Accessed: 17-03-2016 21:44 UTC

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LynnHunt

F ren c h H t oryn t h e L at Tw e nt yY e ar Th e

Re an dF aof t h e An nae P arad gm

Th ere n oon e h t orc a ou rn at h at more n f u en t a n t h e w ord

t od ay t ha n th e An na e E co no m e S oc e te C v a t on t p er ha p

t he on y ou rn at h at w d e y re c ogn zed by t h e h orte n ed v e ron of t

t t e an d t n t e e c tu ah e g emonyw t h n F re nc h h t ory c rc e make t

an amot n ev t ab e t art n g -pon t f ord c u on of d e ba t e an d ad van ce

n F ren c h h t oryn t h e a t t w od ec ade A t h ough F ren c h h t ory a

t p rac t e d n F ranc e n o t th e ame a F ren ch h t ory a p rac t e d

n o t h erc ount re e p e c ay En g and an dAmerc a t he An n ae h a

becomea tandardpontof reference nFrenchhtorybothfor t

admrer an d f or t c rt c

Th e e aryh t ory of t h e Ann ae n ow we -k n own F oun de dn 1929

byMarcBochandLucenFebvreattheUnver tyofStrabourga

t h e An n ae dh t ore e con omqu e e t o c a e t h e ou rn amov e dw t h

t f oun d er t oP ar n t h e md -1930an d t o ok t c u rre nt n ame n 1946

BochandFebvrentendedtocreateanopenforumfornterd cp nary

reearchandtopromoteconcreteco aboratveworkthatwoudnotbe

t e d to t he p o t v m o f t r ad t o na h t or c a c ho a r h p n F r a nc e

B y t he md -1950 t h e An n ae an d t a o c a te dh t oran h ad t ran -

f orme d t he n t a an t -e t ab h men t c o te re n t o an at e rnat v e e t ab h -

me nt n t t u t on n t ow n rght Af t e rt he w art h e ou rn aw a a o c a te d

wththenewyfoundedSxthSectonforeconomc andoc a cence

ofthe EcoePratquedesHautesEtudesUnderFebvreandthenunder

h u c ce orF e rn andB raud e b e tw ee n 1956an d 1968 t h e re n of

theSxthSectonandtheAnnae werehed none ncrea ngypowerfu

handn 1970theS xthSectonandtheAnnaemoved ntothenew

M aon d e S c e nc e d e H omme w h c h w a bu t w t h f un df romt h e

Mn tryofNatona EducatonandtheFordFoundatonand n1975

theSxthSectonbecamethendependentEcoede HauteEtudeen

S c e nc e S o c a e Gv e n t he af f a t on b e t we e n th e ou rna an d t he

Journ aof C ont e mporaryH t ory SAGEL on don B e v eryH an dNew D e h

Vo 211986 209-224






Hunt F re n ch H t ory t h e An n ae P arad gm

K n e r f t he N o be P r z e w er e g v en t o h t o r a n t w ou d a m o t

certanyhavebeenawardedtoFernandBraude 7

Braude pubcaton havebeentheocca onfor omuchcommentary

n o t on yb ec au e t h ey are mpre v e n t h e row n rgh t bu t ao b e cau e

t h eyh av e e rv ed a a t and -n f ort he An nae c h oo n g e n era Af te r

B rau d e h ad ret re d f romh c ommandp o t n t h e 1970 c h o ar

partcuaryAmercan choar begantoattempttodefnetheAnnae

parad gmf orh t orc are e arch n h b ook on t h e u b e c t Tra an

StoanovcharguedthattheAnnae paradgmhadargey d pacedwhat

hetermed exempar anddeveopmenta paradgm ofh torca

e x p anat on n c ont ra t t o t h e e e are rf orm of h t orc a an ay t h e

An nae c h oo e mph aze d e ra f unc t ona an d t ru ct u ra ap pro ac h e

t oun de rt andn g o c e ty a a t o t a n t er-re a t ed org an m Th e Ann ae

p arad gmc on t t ut e an n qu ryn t oh ow on e of t he y t e mof a o c e ty

f unc t on orh ow aw h oe c o e c t v t y f unc t on n t e rm of t mu t p e

t e mpora p a t a h uman oc a e c on omc c u t u ra an d e ve nt men t a

dme n on 8Th mgh t n ot b e av e ry e e g an t f ormu at on bu t t d o e

g v e ome e n e of h ow t h e An n ae c hoo c ou db e c on d e re dmp era

n c ope an d amb t on

Braude partcuarcontrbutontotheAnnae paradgmha been

termeda geo-htorca tructura m anapproachtracedbyRoger

ChartertothehumangeographyofV da dea Bache-a geo-htory

of p at o c e t e t h at p romote d an dw at e ran d c mat e t o t he f ront

rank 9B raud e n f u en c e mot of t en n k ed t oh t h re e -t e red

c onc e pt on of h t orc a t me t ruc t ure t h e on g -t e rm at t h e ba e

thencononcturemedum-engthunt oftentwentyor evenffty

year andfna y evenement theeventor hort-term LaMedter-

rane e w adv d e dn t o t hre e p art - t h e ge ograph c a t h e o c a

an d t he n dvdu a -w h c h c orre p on de dn a g e ne raw ay t o t e e

t emporad v on

Braud e g rea t e t o rgn at yw a h own n h e x amn at on of t he

re a t on h p h apn g th e t ru c tu re of on gu e d u re e C on ve re y h w ork

h ab e e n mot c on t e nt y c rt c ze d f ort p rog rammat c d e n grat on

oftheevent Spacetme andmanwerethethreeru ngabtracton

n B raud e c onc e pt on of h t ory bu t man t u rne d ou t t ob e t t e

otherthanthevehce fortheong-tandng repettventeracton

b e tw ee n p ac e an d t me B e h n d a of h uman h t ory t h ere t h

a c t or an ac to rw h op rompt y t ran f orm h me f w ho aw ay ad ro t

w ho a w a y p r e e h m e f f o rw ar d a n d wh o o ft en d ec v e n h

n t erv en t on Wh at h a w e c a h m? Sp ace ? Th e word ay t o o t t e

Th e e art h? An e q u v oc an ame L e t u ay t h e ge ograph c am e u 10

211






Journaof ContemporaryH tory

A ac on e q ue n ce f orB rau de e v en t are d u t an d t he d u t p art c u -

ary t h c k n t he d oman of p o t c an dn t e e c tu a f e t w oof t h e t ap e

of t rad t on a h t ory

Depte theenormou pretgeof LaMedterraneeBraude exampe

ddn o t e c t man yw ork w t h n t h e Fre nc h h t orc a c ommun ty on

cro -natonanetworkofcommerca exchangeRatherFrenchh tor-

an ofthethrdAnnae generatonfocued argeyonFranceand

uua yononeregon ofFranceThebet knownofthee greatthee

wereLePay an deLanguedoc1966 byEmmanue LeRoyLadure

an dB eau va e t e B e au va 1960 byP e rre Gou be rt B rau d e

n f u en c e ayn o t omu c h n c h o c e of g e og raph c a are a a n me th odo -

og c a mp era t v e H h e rarc h c amod e of an ay t ruc t ure

conunctureeventme hednceyw ththethree-partubtte ofthe

ou rn a - E c on ome S o c et e C v at on - an dd ef n e dn b ro ad t erm

t h e age n daof t h e Ann ae h t oran C mate b oogy an dd e mograph y

wereumpedtogetherwth ong-termeconomc trend a themot

f und ame n ta d e te rmnan t of o c e ty S o c a re a t on h p w h c h w ere

moreceary ubecttothefuctuaton oftheconuncturewerecon-

d e re d a e c on d orde rof h t orc a re a t y an d c v za t on orw hat

w ac a e dn t h e 1960an d 1970me n ta t e w av e we d a a t h rd

ubequentandargeydependenteve ofh torca experenceThe

mod e orp arad gmw ac ompe n gby t v e ry mpc t y t he on g- t erm

w a n k edw t h t h e mmob e h t ory of b oog c a an dg e ograph c a

determnant themedum-termwththeeconomcand oca fuctua-

t on of re g on ay or n at on ay -d ef n e dp opu at on an d t he h ort -

te rmw t h t he p o t c a an d c u t u ra e x pre on of p e c f c g rou p or

ndvdua

Th e t hre e- t e redmod e n k n g t me an dh t orc ad e t ermn at on w a

w d e y ac c ep t edw t h n t h e F ren c h h t orc ap rof e on n are v e w of

currentreearchtrend nFrancepub hedn 1966byPerreRenouvn

f ore xamp e t h e ay ou t wa amot p re d c tab e f r t c ame ec onomc

h t ory t h en o c a h t ory an d t he n o c o -py c hoog c ah t ory w h c h

n c ud ed n t e e ct ua p o t c a a nd r e g o u h t o r y R e no uv n h m e f

regrettedthattheroe payedbythe ndvdua wa often ookedupon

a n e ggb e an dh e wa d t u rb e d tof n d t h at t he e v e nt w a k e w e

d d an ed Y e t de p t e h c rt c mof y oungh t oran p e n c han t f or

un at e ra n t erp re t at on h e ddn o t e rou y c h ae n g e th e re gn n g

t rp art t e mode f orh t orc a e x p an at on

Th e od e randmore t rad t on arv a of t h e An n ae t h e Revu e h t orq u e

tefrecognzedthegrowngpredomnanceofeconomc andoc a

h toryBetween1876thedateof t foundng and1972theproporton

212






HuntFrenchH torytheAnnae Paradgm

ofartce onbographydroppedbynearyn netypercentandthoe

on p o t c a h t ory f e by ov ert h rt yp erc e n t C orre p ondn gy t h e

n umbe rof art c e on e c on omc h t ory qu ad rup e d an d t ho e on o c a

h t oryn earyd ou b edP o t c ah t ory re man ed t h e arg e t n g e

category butby1972economcand oca h toryhadrepacedbography

an d re g ou h t ory a t h e ne x t arg e t 12

E v en t h e c h o arp u run g t h e t u dy of me nt a t e e eme d t o a cq u e c e

n t h e p re d omn an ce of e c on omc an d o c a h t ory n an art c e on

ap pyn g qu ant t a t v e met h od t o t h e t h rd e v e c ert an y at e n g t t e

PerreChaunuexpa ned tamountto a competeanadaptatona

p o b e of t h e me th od t h at w ere p e rf e ct ed f r t byh t oran of t h e

e c on omy t h en by oc ah t oran 1H t oran of c u t u re h ad on y

t o e mu at e t he rp re d ec e o r n e c onomc an d o c a h t ory n ord er

to ucceedA RogerCharterremarkedna recentrevewof nteectua

h t ory n F ranc e Th amot t y rann c ap re - emn e nc e of t he o c a

dme n on t he c e are t t ra ce of t h e d ep e nd e nc e of c u t uraon o c a

h torythatmarkpot-warFrenchh torography 14

roncay howevertheAnnae paradgmbegantod ntegrateat

theverymomentof t trumphS ncetheretrementofBraudefrom

h c hara t t h e C o e g e d e F ran c e f romh pre d e n cy of t h e S x t h

S ec t on an d f romh e ade rh p of t h e ou rna t he An nae c h oo h a

gonethroughacontnungproce offragmentatonandevene f-doubt

Th e dp e ra of n t e re t w t h n t h e Ann ae c h oo c ann o t b e a tt rb u te d

e nt re y - an dp e rhapn o t a t a - t o t h e d ep art u re of B raud e h m e f

f t h ere h ab e e n ad e c n e of t h e Ann ae p arad gman d t h n k t hat

on e un de rw ay t h e n t he f au t mu t b e t ra ce dn p art t o t h e u c c e

of t he p arad gmNoot h e rapp roa c h c an c am a mu ch u c ce n

c ha e n gngM arxma t he maor n p rat on f orh t orc a re e arc h n

manyp art of t h e w ord Y e t a t h e Ann ae p arad gmh ab e e n d f -

f u e d t h a a o c ome und e rn c re an g c rt c m n ot on yf rom

non-Frenchandnon-Anna teh toran butevenfromw thnthe

c ho o t e f

Therearemanyreaon forthefragmentatonoftheAnnae choo

b u t one t and ou t ap art c u ary gn f c ant F romt h e v eryb e gnn n g

theAnnae wa characterzedbya trongmethodoogcaempha

w h oe c oro aryw aan e v e r-p re e n t w eak ne of f o cu A ame t hod

theAnnae paradgmcoudpreumaby beapped toanypaceandto

an y ep o ch an d t h a b e en ap p e d t o an at on h n gv are ty of p ac e

an d t me L e t h an at h rd of t h e art c e p u b h e dn t h e Ann ae

between1965and1984concernedFrance 15Yettheconcentratonon

w h at F ranc o Sman dn 1901c a e d t ab e w e -d e f n ed re a t on

213







w a n o t w th ou t t r k 1 6 T he c o e ct o n o f e r a d a ta o n p r ce

marrage orbookproducton ometme eemedtocont tuteanend

n t e f n t h e ab e nc e of ad e f n ed f o cu of re e arc h me t hod t hu ran

ther kofbecomnga feth Anewermoretechnoogcay-advanced

f ormof p o t v mre p ac ed t h e od on e

Theempha onmethodrefectedamoregenerareactonagan t

M arx mA Fran c o F u re t t h e mme d ate p a t p re d e nt of t h e E co e

d e H au t e E t u de e x p an ed Th e Ann ae of fe red an amot b oun d e

rangeoftopc andmethod -a heaven-entoa onthepathawayfrom

S t an o -M arx t h t orc m w hoe p ow e rt omyt f yw e h ad on yre c en t y

c ome t ore cogn ze 7A t h ou gh th e Ann ae c h oo h are dM arx m

n t e nc e on t he p rmacy of t h e e con omc an d o c aov e rt h e p o t c a

an d c u tu ra t h e An n ae p arad gmt e f ddn o t n c u d e an an ay of

c h an g e c onf c t an d ru p tu re t hat c ou d rv at h e M arx t v on of t he

h t orc ap ro ce manyw t h n t h e c h oo an d ou t d e of t w ou d c on d e r

t h av rt u e n t e f A ac on e q ue n ce t h e An n ae p arad gmha p rov e d

mu ch e amen ab e t o t he n v e t g at on of maorp e rod of u ph eav a

u c h are v ou t on Th e p arad gmh ah admu ch more app e a t o c ho ar

who tudyperodbefore1789 andtherehabeena markedtendency

toemphaze ong-termcontnute thetructureovermedum-term

fuctuaton theconunctureand uppoedy hort-termevent Athough

theproportonofartc e onFrenchhtoryafter1815pub hedn the

Annae ha grownfromtwenty- xpercentbetween1965and1974

t o t h rty -f v e pe rc e nt n t h e a t d e cad e t t f arout we gh edby

theproportonofartce onpre-1815France xty-fvepercentbetween

1975an d 1984 18

Promnentmemberof theAnnae choohavethemeve recognzed

theex tenceofprobem Jacque Revenotedthatthedentfcaton

of t ab e y t e m at t h e he art of t h e und e rt ak ng t e v en t rk n g

t on o te t h at th e h t ory of t h e Ann ae n n ow ay c on c ern edw t h a

h e ory of o c a c h an ge orw t h t h e h f t f romon e h t orc amod e n

c t u cc e o r A a r e u t t h e A nn a e t o da y em ph a z e e xp er -

mentatonand nterrogaton wthoutpreumabyany etteddea about

wheretheexpermentandquet on mghtpont 19Furetobervedthat

theAnnae nowexerc e onya hegemonyofnfuenceandreputa-

t on t n o t a c h ooof t h ough t nore v en an y on ge ra c o e c t v e

p r t 2 0

RevetracedthefragmentatonoftheAnnae toagenera d ntegraton

of t h e be e f n at o t a zn g n t erd c pn art y Th e f e d of re e arch n

th e o c a c e n ce p n te rn gM an t h e c e nt raf gu re of t he p re ce dn g

mode of an ay h ac e a e d t ob e t h e b ac re f e re nt an dh ab e c ome t h e

214







t ran t ory ob e c t an d ad a t ed on e of ap art c u arp a tt e rn of c e n t f c

d c oure n t h e p ac e of ah yp o th e of g ob aun t y app eared an

e mph a on p art a o c au n t an d c onc ret e c e n t f c w ork w hoe

p rt Re ve d e f e nd e d a e e nt a y an t -po t v t b e c au e t w an o t

motvatedbyanoptm mabouttheachevementofa fna untyof

product 21

Thegenera d ntegratonofthebe efn acoherentyun fed nter-

d c p n art ywa gv e n add e dmpet u by t h e An nae c h oo ow n

pu ru t of t h e h t ory of men t a t e Th e app c a t on of An nae me th od

t o t h e t h rd e v e of me n t a e v en t t e f e v e n tu ayb e g an t ound e rmn e

t h e Braud e an t h ree - t ere dmod e of an ay Th e h f t of n t e re t t o

me nt a t e e x empf e d n t h e c are erof Emman u e L e RoyL ad u re

w h oe e are t art c e f o cu e d on h t ory an d c mat e an dw hop ro c ame d

n Th e Te rrt ory of t he H t oran En g h t ran at on 1979 t h at h t ory

t h at n o t q uan t f ab e c ann o t c amt ob e c e n t f c H ow ev e r n t h e

econdhaf ofh careerLeRoy Ladureha turnedmoreandmoreto

t h e h t ory of men t a t e S u ch w ork a M ont a ou En g h t ran at on

1978 an dC arn v a n Roman En gh t ran at on 1979 are amot

entreyconcernedwth gnfcant hort-termevent thatcoudbetaken

t ore ve au n d eryn gme n ta t e an dn h arp c on tra t t oh e are rw ork

theebook areargey narratvenpre entaton22

Th e con te n t of art c e n t h e Ann ae n t h e 1960an d 1970re f e c t

t h e n t ere t n t h e t h rd e v e e e Tab e 1 A t h ou gh d emograph c an d

oca h toryweremuchmorepromnentn theAnnaethan ntheRevue

h torquewheretheyaccountedfortwoandf fteenpercentofthe

art c e re p e ct v e y n t e e c tu a an d c u t u ra h t oryw e re u rp r n gy

we-pacedw thntheAnnae toowhereatheyaccountedfornomore

thantwenty-fvepercentoftheartc e ntheRevueh torque 23Not

e v ery on e w ae n t hu at c ab ou t t he g row ng n t ere t n me nt a t e A

reportoftheCentreNatonade RechercheScentfquecharacterzed

t h f e d n 1 96 9 a f e d w th p t fa a nd n d a n ge r o f to o h a ty

re a z a t on 24M ore re ce n t yF u ret h a c arre d t h e c rt c m e v en

f u rt h er A t oooft e n t me re y a G a c u b t t u te f orM arx man d

py c h oan ay F u re t a tt rb u te t h e ex p o on of n t e re t n me nt a t e

ton o t ag a f oraro ot e d t rad t ona o c e ty t n o ac c de n t th at t h

t ype of h t oryh a e n oye d t g rea t e t p opu art yn t he p at d e c ade or

t w on aF re nc h o c e t y v o e n t y t orn away f rom t p at by e c onomc

grow t h andf e edn gn c omp e n at on on aw ord of n o t ag a 25

F u re t c rt c mof c u rre nt t re nd n t h e t u dy of men t a t e c ou dw e

b e e xt e nd e d t o t he An nae c h oo more g e ne ray w h c h n ot u rp r n g

gv e n t he g e ne ra h f t w t h n t h e c h oo t ore e arch on t h e t h rd e v e

215






Journa ofContemporaryH tory

Th h t ory ow n g t o t he v ague ne of t he w ord t hat gv e t a ab e f n o t a c ont e nt

pre e n t an amot n f n t e rang e of me th odoog c ap o b t e n t h e rand omp at t ern

o f t v ar o u a p p c a t on h t o r e d e m e nt a t e b u r t he c a c d t n ct o n o b e r ve d

n t h e t u dy of n dvdu a an d o c e t e an dd o e n o t of fe ran y t ru e ad d t ona

expanatorypowerHowever tpreent Frenchh torographywth thedangerof

e f- a t f a ct on n av ac uum n c e th e w ord t h at t h od u p k e an e mb e m-me n ta t e

- h an o e q u v ae n t n o t h er an gu age 26

n F u ret v e w t h e v e ry ac k of d ef n t on of t h e v at f e d of me nt a t e

t e f d an g erou f ort f o t e r an un en dn gpuru t of n e w re earch

t op c w h c h h av e a t h e rb a on y af e e t n gn t u t on oran e phe mera

f ah on S n c e th e e re e arch e are n o t g roun de dn a un f e d o c a

t h eory t h eyy e d e n d e yd e bat ab e re u t 27Sm ary Robe rt

Darntonchargedthat Deptea pateofproegomenaandd coure

onmethod theFrenchhavenotdeveopeda coherentconceptonof

m en ta t e a a f e d o f t u d y 28

TABLE1

ContentofArtce ntheAnnae 1965-1984

npercent

EconomcSoca DemographcPo tca nteectua/Cutura

1965-7418 221314 34

1975-8419 241311 35

Percentageareroundedand na handfu ofcae artce wereenteredn morethan

on e ca t eg oryTh e e p e rc en t ag e h ou db e c on d e re d ap proxmat on on y n c e t

verydffcut tocategorzemanyof theartce appearng ntheAnnae

Th e h t oran w ho t u dyme n ta t e are t h eme v e w orre d ab out

hemethodoogca andtheoretca foundaton oftherendeavour

t n oon g ere n ough t ob e a t f e dw t h pu run gre e arch on t h e

t h rd e v e of t he An nae p arad gm n t h e 1960 me nt a t e w e re

conceveda fundamentay dfferentfromtheobect oftradtona

nteectuah toryratherthantudytheconcou contructonof

an n dvdu a mn dh t oran of me n ta t e o oke d f ort h e c o e c t v e

menta tythatreguate wthouttherknowngt therepreentaton

a nd u d ge me nt o f o c a u b ec t 2 9 B u t e r a a n a y o f w

conographctheme orbookproductonthebetmethodforgettng

at t h c o e c t v e men t a t y ? A qu an t f yng app ro a ch u ppo e t h at

c o e c t v e t hou gh t c an b e c apt u re dn t h e r mot re p et t v e an d e a t

p e rona e x pre on t h at t h ey c an b e re du c ed t o a mt e dn umberof

f ormu a t h at n e ed on y t ob e t u d ed n t e rmof t h e rd f f ere nt a

216







frequency nthedver egroup ofapopuaton 30Howcanthework

ofgreatthnker be ncorporated ntoucha chema andevenmore

mportanthowcan uchanapproachdetermnethereaon fortheh ft

fromone ytemofrepreentatontoanother?Theprobem facedby

t he An nae p arad gmn g e n e ra e e me d e p e c ay ac ut e t o t ho e t u dyn g

therepreentaton ofco ectvementa ty

Frenchh toran ofmentate areno ongerconvncedthatdeoogca

y t e morc o e c t ve re p re e n ta t on c an b e mpy t ake n a re f ec t n g

m at er a t ha t o c a r ea t y T h e t h r d e ve t ur n o u t no t to b e a

e v e a t a b u t t e f ap rmaryd et ermn ant of h t orca re a t yA

C hart e rp ut t Th e re at on h p t h u e t ab h ed n o t one of d e pe n -

denceofthementa tructure onthermatera determnaton The

re pre e n ta t on of t h e o c a w ord t he me v e are t h e c on t t ue n t of

o c a re a t y 3U t mat e y t he ref ore t h e h t ory of me nt a t e c a

n t o q ue t on t h e e n t re An nae p arad gmE c onomc an d o c a re a t on

arenotprorto ordetermnngofcutura one theyaretheme ve

fed ofcutura practceandcuturaproducton

Wh e t h e Ann ae h t oran w e re th e me v e b e gn n n g t o q ue t on

t he n t e e ct u a t ran g e hod of t h e rre gn n gp arad gmmuc h of t he mot

mportantworkonmentatg wa bengcarredoutby non-Anna te

h t o r a n u ch a P h p p e A r e a n d M ch e F ou ca u t n t he 1 9 70

t h e muc h od e rw ork of t he G e rman Norb e rt E a on Th e C v zn g

Proce wa redcoveredGermanedton 1939Frenchtranaton 1973

En gh t ran at on 1978 an d t t o oh ad ap owe rfu mp ac t on t he

An na t e ow n re e arc h n t omen t a t e A re E a an dF ou c au t h are d

wthLucenFebvreannteret n ong-rangetrend nthea teratonof

thetructureofthepychebut unketheor gna Annae founderthe

therthreewentbeyondthetudyofa partcuarepochforFebvrethe

xteenthcenturyto eaboratemoregeneratheore ofco ectve

m e nt a t e 3 2

E a A re an dF ou c au t e a c h off e re d av e w of w h at E a c a e d

t he c v zn gp ro ce 33E a t rac e d th e c han gn g t hre h od of h ame

acro Europeanh toryandattrbutedtheechangeto theoc a power

of v au e- e t t n g e t e A re g ave p rmac y to t h e d e aof t h e format v e

t age of t he f e of t he n dvdu at h e h t orca d e ve opmen t of t he d e a

ofthe fecycepreparedthewayforthedeaofprogre through

c v za t on F ouc au t d ef n e d t he e e n ce of t h e c v zn gp ro ce a on e

of n c rea n gd c p n e bu t n manyw ayh ov era c h emare e mb e d

t h at of E a p ont ane ou b e hav ou rw at o e ra te dn t h e Mdd e Ag e

n t h e e arymod erp e rodn c rea n gy oph t c a t ed y t e mof e x t ern a

re t ran t we re mpoe dn t h e n ame of morat y an d n t h e mod e rn e ra

217







t h e e e xt e rn are t ran t w e re n t e rna ze dU n k e E a h owe v er

Foucautdd notattrbutethee change todeepertranformaton ofthe

oca tructureandofthed trbutonofva ue-makngpowerA though

F ou ca u t m p c t y p r o v de d a e t o f t a ge n t he c v z n g p ro ce h e

re pe a te dyn t e d on d c on t nu t e n h t ory rat h ert h an n t errogat e

t h e d c ou re of d c p n e f ort h e run de ryn g c au e h e t re e d t he

mportanceof eengh torca yhowtruth-effect areproducedn de

d c ou re w h c h are n o t n t h e me v e e t h e rt rue orf a e 34

Muchofthecurrentworkonco ectvementate nFrenchh tory

ha beendevotedtoeaboratngorcontetngtheoverarchngchemata

provdedbytheethreewrter noneofwhomwereprofe onah tor-

an n t h e u u a e n e Th e work of F ou c au t h a p o e d e p e c ay

t h re a te n n g c hae n g e t o t h o e w h ow h t o t u dyme nt a t e b e cau e

h w rt n g on t h e c v zn gp ro ce n c u de re c urren t and c orro v e

a t ta c k on t h e p re v an gme t hod of h t oran F ou c au t h a h ad fe w

e mu ator w t h n t h e F re n ch h t orc a c ommun t ybu t h e h ap o e d

ap paren t yn e c ap ab e q ue t on H e h a h own mot f orc ef uy t h at t he re

are n on atu ra n t e e c tu aob e c t a C h art e re xp an e d M adn e

medcne andthetatearenotcategore thatcanbeconceptuazed n

t e rm of un v era w hoe c on t en t e a c h e po c h p art c u arze 35M an

h me f are c en t n v e nt on ac c ordn g t oF ouc au t an d e v en e x ua t y

w aon y produ ce d a ad c u rv e ob e c t n t he e gh t ee n th c e nt u ry

What tme-bound nd curve practcecannotprovdetheendurng

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o c a c e n ce are k now n n F ranc e c an no t b e re e d u p on n t h e

e arc h f ora t o ta h t ory of man f ort h ey t h eme v e mu t b e h t or-

ca ydecontructeda theproductofcontngentmcro-technooge

of p ow er 36

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anant-method37Foucautca edt anarchaeoogy TheArchaeoogy

of Kn ow e dge E ng h t ran at on 1972 an dmore re ce nt y a

g e ne aogy 38Ne t he rt e rmw a me an t n a c onv e nt on a e n e a a e arc h

f ororgn F ouc au t e xp c t y re e c te dmot c u rre nt h t orc ame th od

H e y t e mat c ay d e - t ep p ed an yf ormof c au a an ay t hou gh on e

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d c u rv e c onc e pt on of re a t yA d c oure n o t an d e o ogy

thereforebecaue tcannotbeexpanedbyreferenceto omethng

o ut d e o f t G en ea o g y a d c ou r e a bo ut d c ou r e n w h ch t he

218







am toanayzehowoneconte atonofpower-knowedgereaton

d p ac e an o t he rD e p t e h at te nt on t o t h e c v zn gp ro ce F ouc au t

re pe a te dyn t e d on d c on t nu t e ra th e rt han c ont n u t e an dmore

c on tr ov er a y t h e n t ed t ha t th er e wa n o u b e ct a g en t n t h

h t ory of d c ont n u t yGe n eaogyh ow e dn c ont ra t h ow t h e u b e c t

w ap roduc e d byd c ou re Wh at w e c a t h e aut h orort h e n dvdu a

w at h e p rodu c t of a c ert an t me -b oun dd c u r v e f ormat on m ary

madn e me d c n e p un h me nt an d e x u at y t h e top c of h maor

work

Th ere a c e rtan u p erf c a m art yb et w ee n t he p o t on of

F ouc au t and t h o e of t h e c a c An nae h t oran F ou c au t g e ne aogy

doe nottakeevent a conventonay gventhegreatthnker andgreat

t e x t of n te e c t u ah t ory f ore xamp e bu t rat h erc on t t u te t ow n

e v en t 39F ouc au t o ok ed f ort he an onymou ru e g ove rn ngd c u rv e

practce Braude ookedforthedeep tructure nbo ogydemography

c mateandtheeconomythathapedMedterraneanh toryandh tor-

an of me n ta t e o oke d f ort he e q u ay an onymou ru e t h at n f orme d

c o e c t v e men t are p re e n ta t on A p art c p a t ed n ad p ac e me nt of

t he u b e ct f romh t ory an dn o t u t g re at n dv du a b u t c o e c t ve

a c t on n g e ne ra B u t Fou cau t t o ok th t e nd e nc y t o t og c a c on -

e q ue n ce H e ddn o t argu e f roman e o -po t v t p o t on t h at a umed

t h at a t h e o c a c e n ce c ou db e un t ed n an n v e t g a t on n t o t h e

natureofman ratherhedevotedhm efto undermnng beef n

contnuty nconcept ucha thenatureofmanand nthemethod

o f th e o c a c e nc e F ou ca u t r ad c a y h t or c z e d a u ch b e e f a n d

b y n t n g on d c on t nu t y n d c ur v e fo rm at o n h e a o e em ed

t ore nd e rf ut e an yn v e t g a t on n t oh t orc ap ro c e t e f a w ay

apparentytantedwththemuchd daned earchfororgn Geneaogy

thenwa notanother tructura tmethodFoucautreectedtructura m

aon gw t h M arx man dpy c h oan ay a t o ta zn gd c oure

Geneaogy orbettergeneaoge areant-c encedevotedtodefendng

t he c a m t o a tt en t on o f o c a d c on t nu ou d q u a f e d e g t ma te

k n ow e dge 40t ma w ond e rt h en t h at mot h t oran f n dF ou cau t

u e fu o n y n m a d o e H e po e d f a c na t ng e p t e mo o g ca

chaenge buttheehavebeenargey gnored nfavourofcon dera-

t on of h o c an gh t n t o th e h t orca f unc t on n g of p art c u ar

n t t u t on an d t yp e of d c oure

A c omp e n g a F ouc au t w ork h a b e en t w ou db e am t ake

t o t h n k t hat F ren c h h t oryh an ow t opp ed n t t rac k me me rzed

by t he e p t e moog c ap rob e mh e o t rk n gy e x po e d n d ee d ome

of t he mot v e yd e bat e an d c ont rov e re n F re nc h h t oryn t h e a t

219






Journa ofContemporaryH tory

twodecadehaveconcernedthoeepochandprobem thatwere

re a t v e y unt ouc h ed e t h e rby t he c a c An nae p arad gmorby t h e

w ork of t h o e n t e re te dn me n t a t e n c u dn gF ou c au t Th e h t ory

ofmodemFrance contemporaryFrancetotheFrench andn partcuar

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of art c e on F ran ce n Th e Jou rna of M ode mH t ory f ore xamp e

grewfromtwenty-twopercentbetween1965and1974totwenty-even

percentbetween1975and1984 nAmerca Frenchh toryha not

beenentreycoonzedby Annae method andperpectve though

t h e n f u e nc e e v d en t n F re nc h H t orca S t ud e f ore xamp e

po tca h torycontnue tobean mportantcategoryf fty-fvepercent

oftheartce pub hedbetween1965and1974forty-onepercent

between1975and1984 wherea demographch torynevermadea

de nt e t h an on e p erc e n t of t h e art c e p u b h ed n e t h e rof t he a t

t wo d e ca de S t t he r e o f e co no m c a nd o c a h t or y u nm t ak ab e

fromtwenty-fourpercentoftheartce pub hedbetween1965and

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though nteectuaandcutura h toryremanmnor nneteenpercent

oftheartce pub hedbetween1965and1974th rteenpercentof

th o e p u b h ed n t h e u b e q u en t d ec ade n g e ne ra n Ame rc ao c a

h t oryh a c arre d a b e fore t b u t t he me t hod oog ca p rob e m poe d

by re e arc h n me n t a t e h av e y et t omak e a arg e mpre on 41

V ery t t e h ab e e n a dh e re abou t M arxm n h t orc a t u d e

nFranceMarx t nterpretaton contnuetohaveanmportantmpact

on h t orca d e ba t e n F ranc e p art c u ary t h ough n ot ex c u v e y

nmodernh toryDebateabouttheFrenchRevoutonhave ong

b e e n at ap e n t h e d e t of F ren c h h t oran bu t n c e th e 1970

thepoemc havetoagreatextentub dedThecareerofFranco

F ure t p art c u ary t e n gn t h re gard F romt he pu b c a t on of

h on t h t ory of t h e Rev ou t on w t h D e n Rc h et n 1965-66

h e w aat t h e c e nt re of w r n g c ont rov e re ov ert h e M arx t n t er-

p ret a t on H f ron ta a au t of 1971on th e o - c a e d re v ou t onary

c at e ch m t t and ard re adn gforg radu ate t u de n t 42B u t n

th e y ear n c e th e p u b c a t on of h c o e c t on of e ay on t h e Re v out on

Frenchver on1978 Furethabecomemoreandmorentereted n

methodoogca probem43 AthoughtheMarx t nterpretatonof the

FrenchRevoutoncontnue toe ct commentfrom choar the

atmosphereofschoary exchanges remarkaby essacrmonousthan

t w a t e n orf f t e en y e arag o

220







Thedecne nbtterne doenotmeanthatMarx t nterpretaton

are p a e n F re nc h h t oryTh e n f u e n ce of M arx t p e rp e ct v e

t v e ry t ron gn t h e man yn ew t u d e of 1848n F ran ce f orn t an c e 44

Evenworkthatemphaze themportanceofcuture nmodernFrance

h a h own t h e mprn t of t he M arx t c h emaw h c h p e rh apn o t

u rpr n ggv e n t he mport an c e of t h e ong on gd aogu e w t h n M arxm

ab out t h e ro e of t h e u p e rt ruc t ure W amS e we mu ch -d c u e d

examnatonof TheLanguageofLaborfromtheOd Regmeto1848

f orn t an ce c ombn e an t h rop oog c a an dM arx t p e rp ec t v e n an

attempttoprovdea readng kethatofE P Thompon fortheFrench

w ork n g c a 45C h are T y w ork on c o e c t v e a c t on n mod ern

Francecon tentyemphaze twofactor a overwhemngy mportant

theformatonofthenatona tateandthedeveopmentofcapta m

Ov ert h e y ear T yh a t u rn e d away f romurb an za t on a t h e prmary

f act o rof ex p an at on f orarg e- c a e c h ang e n F ren c h o c a an dp o t c a

f e t ow ard u c h obv ou yM arx t f a c to r a p ro e taran za t on 46

A t h ou gh man y of t he An nae h t oran u c h aF u re t hav e d ef n e d

t h e re nd e av oura e x p c t yn on -Marx t t h e An n ae c h oo an dM arx t

h t o r a n a r e no t a f a r a pa r t a o me w ou d k e u t o b e e ve n

re ce n t ye ar a t he An nae c h oo h amov e d t ow ard t h e t u dy of

me nt a t e t h e Marx t h ave b e en d rawn t o t h e t u dy of c u t ure Th e

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muchtheameground a thethree-teredparadgmoftheAnnae

c h oo A t t he v e rymome nt t h at o c ah t ory e e me d t ore gn u p reme

w t h n b o th c amp manyh t oran b e g an t o q u e t on t h e found at on

of o c a h t ory of t he An nae p arad gman d of th e M arx t e x p anat ory

mod e A t h e p o emc h ave u bd e d c e rt an re cu rre n t u e h av e

u rf ac ed a t o ta h t or y p o b e o r d e r a b e? W ha t t he r o e o f

c u t ure n d ay f e n o c a move men t n re v out on ary c h ang e ? C an

or h ou d an n t ere t n c u t u re orme n ta t e b e n te g ra t ed n t o ao c a -

htorca theory?

Atthecentreofthee ue andatthepontof convergenceofthe

Ann ae c h oo an dM arx t h t ory t h e th e me of p owe rB o t h E a

andFoucautmadepowerthecentraconcept ntherwork forE a

t w a t h e pow erof v au e - e t t ng e t e an d f orF ou cau t t w a t h e aw ay

anonymou mcro-technooge ofthevarou d cp naryapparatue

e em n re trop e ct t h at an an ay of p owe rw at h e m n gn gred e n t

n b o th t h e Ann ae an dM arx t p arad gm n t h e Ann ae c h oo p owe r

w are e g a t ed t o t h e d u t of e ph eme ra e v en t an dn M arx t n t er-

p ret a t on t w a an a - t oo au t omat c c on e q u en c e of ec onomc an d o c a

hegemony nthe at twodecade theerefexreacton havecome

221







un de rp re u re Ju t w h at t h e out c ome w b e f arf romc e ara t he re

a r e no w ob v ou p ro b em w t h a o f th e mo de a va a b e 4 7 t n ot

evencearwhethertheconcernwthpower-cuturew generatecore

of n t e re t n g o a t e d o c a t u d e or ay t he f ound at on foran e w t y e

of o c a t he ory t e v d en t h ow ev e rt h at t h e met h od oog c a

oph t c a t on an d ev e n t he e f -dou bt of F ren c h h t oran w make

fornteretng readngn thedecade tocome

Note

1 Th ere are man y ou rc e on t h e h t ory of t h e An n ae c hoo S e e f ore xamp e Tra an

StoanovchFrenchH torca MethodTheAnnae Paradgm thaca1976 GuyBourde

a nd H er v6 M a rt n L e E co e h t o r q ue P ar 1 98 3 a n d J ea n G e n o n F ra nc e n

G e orgG gg er an dH arodT P ark er n te rnat on aH andb ook of H t orca S t ud e

ContemporaryReearchandTheoryWetport Connectcut1979 175-92

2 S t o a no v ch o p c t 2 35

3 gg er an dP ark er n te rnat on aH andb ook 5-6 F oramu ch more c rt c a an ay

of t h e u c ce of t h e An n ae c h oo e e H erv 6C ou t au -B6g are L e Phe n ome ne Nou v e e

H t ore S t ra te g e e t d e o og e d e n ouv e au xh t ore n P ar 1983 C out au-B eg are p a c e

g rea t e mph a on t h e An n ae c h oo p e ne t ra t on n t o t h e ma me d a and t n f u en c e

w t h n t h e maorpu b h n gh ou e

4 S e e f ore xamp e B ou rd 6an dM art n L e E c o e h t orq ue an dG e nn on op c t

5 A q uo te d n G en o n o p c t 1 7 7

6S e e f ore xamp e t h e p e c a u e of t he Jou rn aof M od erH t ory on H t ory

wtha FrenchAccentwhchncudedartce byJ H Hexteron FernandBraudeand

theMondeBraude enandH R Trevor-Roperon FernandBraudetheAnnae and

theMedterranean vo 44 December1972

7 n 1978Rev e w pub h e d an en t re u e on t he An nae an d t mp ac t on h t orc a

t u d e around t h e w ord n at e ry e ar h owe v er Re v ew h a b e en mu c h more obv ouy

a o c a te dw t h t h e word y t e man ay of t f oun d er mman u e Wae rt e n t h an w t h

h e w ork of Braud e an d t h e Ann ae F orKn e r q u ot e e e h An na t e P arad gm?

Th e G eoh t orc aS t ru ct u ra mof F e rnan dB rau de Amerc an H t orc a Re v ew 86

1981 63-105e p e c ay 63

8 S t o a no v ch o p c t 2 36

9 K n e r o p c t C ha r t er q u ot e fr om G 1 6n o n o p c t 1 77

1 0 A q uo te d n K n e r o p c t 6 7- 68 n t h p ar ag ra ph h av e re e d h ea v y o n

Kn e r p e ne tra t n g anay w h c h v e ry n t ere t n g n p art c u arf ort a t te n t on t o

t h e rhe t orc a t rat e g e of B raud e w rt n g

11 PerreRenouvn Reearchn ModernandContemporaryHtory PreentTrend

n F ranc e Journ aof M od ern H t ory 381966 1-12 q u ot e f rom11

12S t a t t c f romAa n C orbn L aRe vu e h t orq u e An ay e du c on te n u dune pu b c a -

t on rv ae d e An nae n C h are -Ov e rC arb on e an dG eorge L v e t e d AuB erc eau

d e An n ae L e m e u t rab ou rg e o L h t ore e n F ran ce au d e b ut d uXX e e c e Tou ou e

1983 136

222







13A qu ot e dn Rog erC h art e r n t e e c tu aH t ory orS o c o c u tu raH t ory ? Th e

F ren c h Trae c to re n D omn c k L aC apra an d S te v en L Kap an e d M ode mEu rop ean

n t e e c tu aH t oryRe ap pra a an dNew P e rp e ct v e t h ac aNY 1982 25

14 b d 2 6

15 amn d e bt e d t o She ryKro en f orh era t anc e n c omp n gn f ormat on abou t

pubcatonpattern ntheAnnae andother ourna

16Th e Sman d quo t e app e ar n Jac qu e Re v e Th e Ann ae C ont n u t e an dD -

c ont n u t e Re v ew 1 1978 9-18 q u ot a t on f rom12Th e Sman d art c e on M 6t hod e

h t orq ue e t c e n ce o c a e f romt h e Revu e d e yn th e e h t orq ue 6 1903 w are p rn t ed

n A nn a e E S C 1 5 1 9 60 8 3- 11 9 a o n e o f th e m o t cr uc a t ex t f o r h t o r an o f

t h e Ann ae c h oo Ne t he rSman dn orRe ve aw an yn k b e t we e n th e t u dy of t ab e

w e -d e f ne d re a t on an dp o t v m

17F ran co F u re t B e y ond t h e Ann ae Journ aof M ode mH t ory 551983

389-410quotatonfrom391

18Seenote15

1 9 R e ve o p c t 1 6

2 0 F u r et o p c t 3 91

2 1 R e ve o p c t 1 7

22D e p t e t u n crt c a re f ec t on on t h e n arra t v e mod e man yu e fu ob e rvat on

on t h e An n ae c h oo n t h e 1970 c an b e found n L awre nc e S t on e Th e Re vv aof

Narra t v e Re f ec t on on a Ne w OdH t ory P at an dP re e nt 851979 3-24 On

theatttudeofB ochandFebvretotheh toryofmentate eeAndreBurguere The

F ate of t h e H t ory of M en t a t e n t h e Ann ae C omp ara t v e S tu d e n S o c e ty an dH t ory

24 1982 424-37

23 Thefgure fortheRevuehtor quecomefromtheperod1951-72Corbn

o p c t 1 36

2 4 G en o n o p c t 1 8 2

25F u re t op c t 404-5

26 b d 4 05

2 7 b d

28 Robe rt D arn ton n t e e ct u a an dC u t uraH t ory n M c h ae Kamme n e d Th e

P at B e f ore U C ont e mporaryH t orc aWrt n gn t h e U n t e d S ta t e t h ac a1980 346

2 9 C h ar t er o p c t 2 3

30 b d 3 0

3 1 b d 4 1 A n e p ec a y a cu te a na y o f o m e o f th e ep t em o og c a p r ob e m

nvovedn thetudyofFrenchpopuarcuturecanbefoundn StuartCark French

H t oran an dE aryM od e rn P opu arC u t u re P a t an dP re e n t 1001983 62-99

32 n t h p arag raph and t h e n ex t on e re yh e avy on t h e u e fu c rt q u e of P at rc k

HH u t t on Th e H t ory of M en t a t e Th e New M ap of C u t uraH t ory H t ory an d

Th eory 20 1981 237-59

33Re p re en t at v e w ork of t he t h ree t h n k er n c u de Norbe rt E a Th e C v zn g

P roc e t ran E dmun dJeph co t t Ne w Y ork 1978 Ph p e Are C e nt u re of C h dh ood

t ran Robe rt B ad c k Ne w Y ork 1962 M c h e F ou cau t D c p n e an dPun h Th e

B rt h of t he P r on t ran A an Sh erd an Ne w Y ork 1979

34 A qu ot e d byMark P o t er F ouc au t andH t ory S o c aRe e arc h 491982

116-42quotatonfrom128

3 5 C h a rt e r o p c t 4 3

36Th e re af a t -g row n g t e ra t ure on F ouc au t Among t h e mot u e f u p e c e f or

h t oran are Jan God t e n F ouc au t amon g t he S o c o og t Th e D c p n e an d t he

223




french history of the last ten years

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