ABSTRACT
The political institutions of the Third Republic were subject to sharp attack for numerous reasons, many of which were justifiable. The Republic was an idea and only an idea, corresponding to nothing real, profound, useful, solid, or good. Charles Maurras claimed it was the Alfred Dreyfus Affair which made him understand clearly why the Republic was powerless to resolve an affair of state. For the two Nationalists, Maurice Barres and Maurras, the party system was the expression and perpetuation of the lack of unity in the state. Georges Sorel saw moral and physical corruption in the political system, as he had complained of corruption in the small towns where he had resided as an engineer. The consequence of financial domination by the plutocracy meant that their undesirable moral attitude penetrated throughout the system. The conflicts taking place after the Dreyfus Affair increased the amount of demagoguery in the system.
