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Exclusive (Conservative) Nationalist, ‘integral nationalism’, right-wing, leans towards fascist ideas.
Conservative/Integral Nationalism
Charles Maurras believed in integral nationalism which subordinates all individual, class, and humanitarian interests to the absolute supremacy of the nation-state.
Ideas & Beliefs
Includes Charles Maurras
- Collective Identity: The individual is suppressed. People owe total, unquestioning obedience to the nation, placing the collective identity above personal choice.
- The Root of Decline: Maurras believed France lost its historic greatness because it abandoned its traditional pillars: the monarchy and the Catholic Church.
- Anti-Democratic & Anti-Semitic: He fiercely opposed democracy, viewing it as weak and divisive, and used anti-semitism to define who “belonged” to the nation versus who was an outsider.
Key Milestones & Legacy
- Action Française (1899): Founded this right-wing, monarchist political movement, which became the main vehicle for spreading his ideas.
- Bridge to Fascism: While deeply conservative and traditionalist, his extreme emphasis on state supremacy and total obedience strongly leaned toward and influenced later fascist ideologies.
- Modern Influence: You can still see his ultra-conservative fingerprint today. His ideas echo through modern right-wing populism and activist movements, specifically influencing figures like Marine Le Pen and the French National Rally.