Liberalism in Nineteenth Century Europe : The Political Culture of Limited Suffrage

"Votes should be weighed, not counted", nineteenth-century liberals argued. This groundbreaking study analyzes parliamentary suffrage debates in England, France and Germany, showing that liberals throughout Europe used a distinctive political language, 'the discourse of capacity', to limit political participation. This language defined liberals, and they used it to define and limit full citizenship. The rise of consumer culture at the end of the century drove the discourse of capacity from politics, but it survives today in education and the professions. 'votes Should Be Weighed, Not Counted', Argued Nineteenth-century Liberals. This Study Analyzes Parliamentary Suffrage Debates In England, France And Germany From 1830 To 1885, Showing That Liberals Used A Distinctive Political Language, 'the Discourse Of Capacity', When Talking About Political Participation. Only Those People Who Had The Right Capacities, As Individuals Or As Members Of A Social Class, Ought To Be Able To Vote. Using The Discourse Of Capacity Defined Liberals, And They Used It To Define And Limit Full Citizenship, Excluding Women And The Lower Classes. Despite National Variations, This Political Language Was Common To Liberals Throughout Europe. The Rise Of Consumer Culture Drove The Discourse Of Capacity From Politics At The End Of The Nineteenth Century, But It Survives Today In Education And The Professions.--book Jacket. The Discourse Of Capacity -- Liberalism And Suffrage, 1830-47 -- Liberalism And Suffrage, 1848-65 -- Liberalism And Suffrage, 1866-85 -- Language And Culture -- The Discourse Of Capacity In Context -- The Decline Of Liberalism. Alan S. Kahan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 228-233) And Index. "Votes should be weighed, not counted", argued nineteenth-century liberals. This pathbreaking study analyzes parliamentary suffrage debates in England, France and Germany from 1830 to 1885, showing that liberals used a distinctive political language, 'the discourse of capacity', when talking about political participation. Only those people who had the right capacities, as individuals or as members of a social class, ought to be able to vote. Using the discourse of capacity defined liberals, and they used it to define and limit full citizenship, excluding women and the lower classes. Despite national variations, this political language was common to liberals throughout Europe. The rise of consumer culture drove the discourse of capacity from politics at the end of the nineteenth century, but it survives today in education and the professions Annotation 'Votes should be weighed, not counted', Nineteenth-century liberals argued. This study analyzes parliamentary suffrage debates in England, France and Germany, showing that liberals throughout Europe used a distinctive political language, 'the discourse of capacity', to limit political participation. This language defined liberals, and they used it to define and limit full citizenship. The rise of consumer culture at the end of the century drove the discourse of capacity from politics, but it survives today in education and the professions Cover 1 Contents 8 Introduction: Defining Liberalism 10 Part I The Discourse of Capacity 28 1 Liberalism and Suffrage, 1830–47 30 2 Liberalism and Suffrage, 1848–65 75 3 Liberalism and Suffrage, 1866–85 118 Part II Language and Culture 160 4 The Discourse of Capacity in Context 162 5 The Decline of Liberalism 181 Concluding Note: the Afterlife of a Political Discourse 202 Notes 211 Works Cited 237 Index 243 In the 1830s liberalism moved to center stage throughout Europe.