Revolution And Constitutional

This essay focuses on the relationship between political theory and politicalpractice. What leads to the failure of a political practice, the unattainability of thetheory or the practice itself? If the theory could have been institutionalized, how toexplain the practical failure using the theory?By way of case study, this essay discussed the linkage between Sieyes’constitutional theory and Girondins’ practice during French Revolution. It starts witha perspective of political philosophy, analyzing Sieyes’ political theory, then followsthe internal logic of Sieyes to find out what conditions are required to institutionalizehis theory from a sociological way and at last combines those conditions withGirondins’ practice. Through discussing the beginning of democratic politics during aspecial historical period, this essay attempts to decode the foundation of moderndemocracy.The conclusion of this study is that “people” has played an ultimate role in thedemocratic process of the French Revolution, from philosophical structure of the“sovereignty of the people”, efforts of the political elites to the ultimate formation ofcivic culture. Since France is a country where the will of people is taken as theabsolute sovereignty, the appearance of the sovereignty and its retreat as a stable civicculture determine the final implementation of a democratic political system.Interspersed in this process, a number of elites with patriotic enthusiasm, spirit ofreasoning and political skills are essential to integrate the whole country. Afterestablishing the new system, political elites should find a way to transformsovereignty into institutions and eventually consolidate the system, only after which ademocratic political process is considered finally completed.