[A Sip of a Book] ‘The History of the Left in Comics’ Told by French European Political Scientists

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In the late 18th century, the goal of the French left was to live in a world where everyone is equal and happy, free from poverty and hunger. Thanks to the powerful influence of the left, which played a major role in the French Revolution and the emergence of the republic, socialism and communism began to take root in modern European politics. This book introduces that process based on this historical background. It lists the history of the French left from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to the current President Macron.

- Jesus was left-wing?

Jesus did not hesitate to use violence for the people suffering under the oppression of money and the powerful. He practiced equal love regardless of wealth or social status. His attitude of wanting to be with the people at the lowest level is no different from that of the left.

- At first, the left disliked universal suffrage?

Because on December 10, 1848, Louis Napoleon, nephew of Emperor Napoleon, won the election and staged a coup d'?tat, restoring the monarchy. Because of this, the left realized that whoever incites the masses and wins the election holds the power to overturn the system. They also learned a lesson about the importance of parliament.

- Why does the left fail to reach consensus?

French socialism gradually subdivided its forces to support parliament as a check on the monarchy. Then, it became closely related to communism, which criticizes the bourgeois class members of parliament and aims for a proletarian regime, and anarchism, which rejects all government power and advocates solely for a "revolution from below." In modern times, these tendencies have degenerated into conflicts and struggles for power, leading to cycles of alliance and division. Repeated splits and conflicts led to wars, and to gain power, the left sometimes formed coalition governments with the right. This arduous struggle and solidarity continue to this day.

The History of the Left Seen Through Comics | Written by Jean-Yves Le Naour | Translated by So Seoyoung | Illustrated by Marco | Fandom Books | 121 pages | 13,000 KRW