ABSTRACT
First published in 1899 during a period of crisis for French democracy, The Psychology of Socialism details Le Bon's view of socialism and radicalism primarily as religious movements. The emotionalism and hysteria of the period-especially as manifested during the Dreyfuss Affair-convinced Le Bon that most political controversy is based neither on reasoned deliberation nor rational interest, but on a psychology that partakes of contatgion andhysteria. Le Bon points to the irrationality of religion and uses the religiosity of socialism to debunk socialism as an irrational movement based on hatred and jealousy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|59 pages
The Socialistic Theories and Their Disciples
part II|44 pages
Socialism as a Belief
part III|109 pages
Socialism as Affected by Race
part IV|64 pages
The Conflict between Economic Necessities and the Aspirations of the Socialists
part V|107 pages
The Conflict between the Laws of Evolution, the Democratic Ideal, and the Aspirations of the Socialists
part VI|32 pages
The Destinies of Socialism