On Authoritarianism

It is announced that Marshal Lyautey has arrived in Paris and that, all booted, he has entered the Academy to take part in the work of the Dictionary.

Precisely, the word "authoritarianism" was being discussed, which proves that the Immortals have not finished canning the first letter of the alphabet and which should reassure us for a certain time about the future of the French language. The Academy has undertaken a Herculean task; but, fortunately, it is accomplishing it in the manner of Penelope.

Marshal Lyautey took part in the discussion. He said some very fine things, which were collected by the gazettes. He affirmed that authoritarianism is in opposition to authority and that, the more authority a man has, the less he needs to resort to authoritarianism.

This is speaking as an academician, and not as a marshal. For, in short, authoritarianism is the systematic exercise of the principle of authority. And authority exists only through its manifestations; it is effective only to the extent that it is dynamic... There are several ways, more or less discreet, to take advantage of a whip; one can use it by lashing the calves and buttocks of the people one wants to influence; one can be satisfied with cracking it loudly; one can even dispense with waving it before using it. But it is essential to make it known that one is in possession of the whip and that one is on the side of the handle.

Authoritarianism, in a pejorative sense, can be defined as an abuse of authority. But the use of authority is already an abuse, a form of oppression, a partial or total confiscation of human freedom.

Can authority be legitimate? I challenge the Academy to justify the principle of authority. Authority is based on dogma or on a sword, on force or on cunning; individuals are dominated by violence, or they are tricked... Individuals who are made to obey: children, women, soldiers... And peoples to whom we say: "Bow under the law that is your work; submit before the cannons, which are your strength."

Authoritarianism is the active virtue of the pawn, the pope, the adjutant, Charlemagne, Louis XIV and Napoleon. Authoritarianism is the fatal disease of Mr. Mussolini, Mr. Poincaré and Mr. Primo de Rivera.

"Authoritarianism" is a word from the same family as "militarism", "sectarianism" and "officialism". Because authoritarianism is exercised, more or less fiercely, more or less childishly, by sectarians, the military and civil servants.

But there is the authoritarianism of the office manager, the authoritarianism of the park keeper, the authoritarianism of the janitor, the authoritarianism of the husband, the authoritarianism of the wife or mistress... Each being unites in himself, by an incredible paradox, an extreme servility and an excessive need to be obeyed... And authority is justified by a delegation of divine right, or by a braided cap, or by a text once engraved on Mount Sinai, or by a sign hung somewhere...

Marshal Lyautey, if he wants to illustrate his definition with a few examples, will therefore have the choice. But he did well to come and document himself in France. Moroccans know, in fact, that authoritarianism is completely unknown in Morocco.

G. De La Fouchardière.