“A very French debate: The 1914-18 ‘war culture’ (original) (raw)

This paper examines the ongoing debate in France regarding the concept of 'war culture' during the First World War. It discusses the emergence of two schools of thought that offer differing interpretations of the role of patriotic mobilization and state-enforced discipline. The analysis underscores the critical importance of understanding cultural determinants of mobilization, social domination mechanisms, and the ambivalence of societal responses to the war, while advocating for a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to studying the First World War.