TRADE UNION–POLITICS RELATIONS IN FRANCE

This article examines the complex and evolving relationship between trade unions and political power in France. Focusing on the historical trajectory from the French Revolution to the 20th century, the study explores how labor movements emerged, transformed, and interacted with state institutions and political ideologies. Through the lens of key legislative milestones, ideological currents, and institutional structures, the article highlights the dual role of trade unions as both socio-economic advocates and political actors. It particularly emphasizes the interplay between syndicalism and republicanism, as well as the tensions between reformist and revolutionary currents within the labor movement. By analyzing historical patterns of engagement and conflict, the article offers a nuanced understanding of how trade unionism shaped, and was shaped by, the French political landscape.