SOCI 210: Sociological perspectives

Agenda

  1. Administrative
  2. The Paris Commune (Gould 1991)
  3. Networks & mobilization

Administrative

Midterm grades

  • This weekend!

The Paris Commune

19th century painting of a bound woman being led by French soldiers among a crowd of civilians

Arrestation de Louise Michel en mai 1871
(Jules Girardet, 1871)

Paris Commune

Radical socialist government of Paris

  • In power for two months in 1871
  • Implemented progressive programs
    Democratic elections, secularism, education, labor rights, French Republican Calendar, …

Timeline

  • Prussian siege of Paris, Sept 1870–Jan 1871
  • France cedes control of Paris, agrees to disarm French army
  • Paris national guard (still armed) takes control, declares Commune on March 26
  • May 28, French army regains control of Paris
  • Tens of thousands of Communards killed during the semaine sanglante, May 21–28

Paris Commune

Networks
& mobi­lization

A group of protestors lies in the middle of the road, their arms linked inside PVC tubes. Police stand around them looking uncertain

Networks & mobilization

Multiple Networks and Mobilization in the Paris Commune, 1871
(Roger Gould, 1991)

In groups of 2–3, discuss the main themes and structure of the reading:

  • What was Gould's primary research question (what was he trying to explain in the article)?
  • What data and methods of inquiry did he use to address the question?
  • What conclusions did he come to?

Networks & mobilization

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b530277823

Empirical analysis

  • Different arrondissements showed different levels of resistance to French army
  • Arrondissements with many residents serving in battalions of highly committed arrondissements showed substantially higher commitment themselves
  • Result holds even taking into account geography and residents’ income/training

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

Network autocorrelation

Network autocorrelation

Network autocorrelation

Network autocorrelation

Network autocorrelation

Networks & mobilization

Networks & mobilization

https://musee-saint-denis.com/portfolio/le-siege-et-la-commune-de-paris/

Lesson 1: Network structure matters

  • Relations to others can have far-reaching effects that depend on the larger structure of a network.

Lesson 2: Network multiplexity matters

  • Different forms of relations (e.g. neighborhood and formal associations) play simultaneous, interconnected roles in affecting behavior.

Networks & mobilization

On March 18, 1871, the people of Paris rose against a despised and detested government, and proclaimed the city independent, free, belonging to itself. … The government evaporated like a pond of stagnant water in a spring breeze …

Peter Kropotkin (1880)

In groups of 2–3:

  • Recall the three "images of statelessness" from our Feb 28 class:
    - "All against all" (Hobbes)
    -"Natural law" (Locke)
    - "Social institutions" (anarchism)
  • How can Gould's analysis of the Paris Commune inform a comparison of those three images?
    Is the Commune an example of statelessness?
    Does it support any one of those images over the others?
    Can it serve as a (counter)example to any of the images?
    Does it complicate the idea of statelessness?