Napoleon's Balancing Act

Never before has there been such a potential for two-way participation in government.  Of all government systems that have come before, no matter how democratic or free, none have had the benefits that internet access brings.  Communicating with representatives and other leaders has never been easier or faster; information can be spread throughout the country to inform citizens virtually everywhere.  It's unprecedented, really.  So, it's difficult to look to the past for good examples of open government, because there is no comparison to the current situation.  However, it is essential to understand past national leaders and how they ran their countries in order to evaluate success and failures in government.


Napoleon Bonaparte's system of government was paradoxical in many ways.  After the French Revolution, the people demanded a greater level of equality than what they had experienced under a monarch.  Napoleon, on the other hand, wanted to be an absolute ruler.  Therefore, he had to do a balancing act: while granting many liberties that the nation had fought for in 1789--such as freedom of religion, protection of private property, careers open to talent, and abolition of serfdom--he also created a centralized government that had control over education, strictly censored art and literature, prevented trade unions, and oppressed conquered nations.  He spread positive propaganda about himself, and had spies throughout the country that made sure any criticism of the government was stopped.  Napoleon had to keep up good appearances, so although he was a dictator, he built roads and did away with feudalism.  In this way, the emperor of France prevented anarchy and revolution.


There are still laws in France and throughout Europe that incorporate Napoleon's civil code.  The freedoms already discussed made France better than it had ever been before, and they made Napoleon's empire famous.  That is where he succeeded.  His ambition, however, became his downfall when he tried to conquer Russia. 


Napoleon's government had many good points, such as equality and unity, but his desire for absolute power prevented the nation from becoming truly open.  When people's ideas and opinions are censored by the government, information is unreliable.


http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture15a.html