Socialism in Microcosm: The Municipal Administration of Dr Ernest Ferroul in Narbonne,1896—1921

Abstract

The municipal administration of Dr Ernest Ferroul in the southern French city of Narbonne during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries reflected the contradictions within the French socialist movement regarding the purpose of socialist municipalities. While frequently proclaiming violent revolutionary intentions, Ferroul primarily concentrated on issues of local improvements and symbolic gestures of worker solidarity. This concentration was influenced by the local ideological tradition of the république démocratique et sociale, the desire, born during the political struggles of the Second Republic, to create a local government controlled by ‘the people’ that would govern with their interests foremost in mind. The centralized state had smashed earlier attempts to assert local popular political autonomy and did its best to frustrate Ferroul’s similar efforts. But the limited successes that he did achieve illustrated his commitment to creating a local government that put the well-being of ‘the people’ first. Moreover, the negative response by national authorities highlighted the continued validity and value of his efforts to achieve popular political control at the local level.