"True Liberal Democracy ... Belongs to Napoléon III": The Rise and Fall of Démocratie Libérale in the French Second Empire.

The article examines the historical development and political significance of the term "démocratie libérale" (liberal democracy) in France during the Second Empire (1852–1870). It argues that this concept emerged as a critical label used by various political actors to advocate for individual liberties and democratic principles while navigating the authoritarian context of the empire. Initially a foreign or pejorative term, "démocratie libérale" gained traction in the 1860s as a means to unite republican and monarchist forces against the imperial regime, ultimately becoming an electoral slogan. However, as the political landscape shifted towards the establishment of the Third Republic, the term lost its relevance and fell out of use, reflecting the complexities of reconciling democracy with liberalism in a rapidly changing political environment. [Extracted from the article]