Communism in Rural France

John Bulaitis teaches at the University of Essex, specialising in twentieth-century French history. He obtained his PhD from Queen Mary, University of London. He has taught European history at Queen Mary, Royal Holloway and the Open University and translation at London South Bank University. He has also worked at Goldsmiths College, University of London, organising outreach work in schools and colleges. His forthcoming biography of Maurice Thorez will also be published by I.B.Tauris.

"'Not only is this an original subject studied in great depth but it is elegantly and meticulously presented. It will become the standard work on the subject.' Kevin Passmore, Director of Postgraduate Research, Cardiff University and Pamela Pilbeam, Professor of French History, Royal Holloway, University of London"

• Tables and Illustrations; Chapter 1. Introduction; Chapter 2. The Legacy of pre-1914 French Socialism The emergence of the 'peasant question'; Socialist agrarianism; The French agricultural worker in the early twentieth century; Socialists and the agricultural strike movement; Chapter 3. Communist agrarianism, 1921-28; The Comintern and the agricultural proletariat. The Marseille thesis: 'nothing has changed'; Post-war agricultural workers' unionism; The 'absurdity' of the class struggle in the countryside; Chapter 4. 'Class against Class' in the countryside, 1928-34; The agricultural proletariat at the centre of agrarian strategy; The FUA during the 'class against class' period (1928-32); Winter 1932/3: a new orientation; Chapter 5. Communists and the agricultural labour force, 1933-35; 'A rural proletariat comparable to the industrial proletariat'; Building the FUA in the Calais region; Vive Marcel Cachin!', 'Vive Monsieur Behin!'; Agricultural workers' unionism and the immigrant worker; The Peasant Popular Front; Chapter 6. Rebellion in the fields, 1936-37; 'We will no longer be common bastards'; The communists and the Calais strike movement; Who led the farm strikes?; An agricultural Matignon?; The 20 July 'general strike'; The Battle of Arras; The FNTA in face of a counter-offensive; 1937: Radicalisation and defeat; Chapter 7. Characteristics of the farm strikes; The farm strikes as community struggles; Farm occupations; Immigrant workers: the 'spearhead of the movement'?; Chapter 8. The farm strikes and the policy of 'peasant unity'; Waldeck Rochet and the strike movement; The strikes and the 'small and middling' farmers; Uniting workers and farmers in the Cantal; A 'fascist provocation' in the Calvados; Two ideas on 'peasant unity'; Conclusion; Sources; Bibliography.