Methods of Interpretation on Political Texts. The Case of Guizot : Study of a Form of Political Stylistics

The concept of « ideology » has been unduly discarded in contemporary history of political thought. It is in fact necessary to bring it back into play in order to understand the status of many texts purporting to bring about political results as well as make abstract points of political theory. This type of political writing (intervention politique) combines an attempt to show the readers that the author belongs to the same political group as they do, and a desire to mobilize them. These features are analyzed in two extracts from the writings of François Guizot. Through several stylistical devices, Guizot aims at persuading his readership to accept what he sees as basic political truths (such as the existence of a natural condition of inequality among men) in order for France to overcome the political dangers it is faced with. The practical failure of Guizot as a politician should not diminish the way in which he has forged some central ideological aspects of the right/left divide in France.