Democratic Transition and Political Culture in France: Late of the Absolute Monarchy Period to the 1978 Revolution

Abstract

This article aims to discuss the political transition of France from the late absolutist regime to the Revolution of 1789 through the lens of political culture in corroborate with the historical-political context. The study finds that, during the late of absolutism, The Parochial-Subject Political Culture, which resulted in a highly centralized monarchy. However, the social context of the time marked by fiscal crises, social injustice, and widespread resentment stemming from deteriorating living conditions served as a critique for the legitimacy of the existing political regime This, led to the pursuit of philosophical ideas for a new political regime and inspired demands for political transformation, as manifested in the French Revolution, where political culture evolved toward a participatory model.
The phenomenon of this democratic transition reflects the influence of popular thought shaped by accumulated socialization under conditions of social inequality. It represents the emergence of a culture change that fueled social movement aimed at establishing a legitimate system of governance institution in new social values under a transformed political culture.