Robert Paxton facts for kids

Robert Owen Paxton (born June 15, 1932) is an American historian and political scientist. He is famous for his work on Europe during World War II, especially on a government called Vichy France.

Paxton is a professor emeritus at Columbia University. This means he has retired but still holds the title of professor. His most famous book, Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order, was published in 1972. It completely changed how people, especially in France, understood their country's history during the war.

Early Life and Schooling

Robert Owen Paxton was born in Lexington, Virginia. For high school, he went to the well-known Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He earned his first degree from Washington and Lee University in 1954.

Paxton was a very good student. He won a Rhodes Scholarship, a famous award that let him study at Merton College, Oxford in England. There, he earned a master's degree. He later got his Ph.D., the highest university degree, from Harvard University in 1963.

A Career in History

Before settling at Columbia University in 1969, Paxton taught at other universities. He taught at Columbia for the rest of his career until he retired in 1997. He has also written many book reviews for the newspaper The New York Review of Books.

Uncovering the Truth about Vichy France

Paxton is most famous for his book about the Vichy government. This was the government of France from 1940 to 1944, during World War II. It was based in the city of Vichy.

A Shocking New Idea

Before Paxton's book, many people believed that the Vichy government secretly resisted Nazi Germany. The common story was that its leaders were trying to protect France.

Paxton's research showed something very different. He argued that the Vichy government was actually eager to work with the Nazis. He found evidence that they were not "passively resisting" but were active partners. His book showed that the Vichy government had its own goals to change French society.

How France Reacted

When the book was translated into French in 1973, it caused a huge stir. Some French historians and leaders were very angry. One former Vichy official even called Paxton a liar on television.

However, the book sold many copies in France. Younger people, in particular, were ready to question the old stories about the war. They wanted to know the truth, even if it was uncomfortable. Paxton's work helped people understand that the French state had helped the Nazis, a fact that had been mostly hidden before.

This new understanding of history became known as the "Paxtonian revolution." In 1997, Paxton was even asked to be an expert witness in the trial of Maurice Papon, a French official who had worked for the Vichy government.

Explaining Fascism

Besides his work on Vichy France, Paxton has also studied fascism. Fascism is a type of government where the country is seen as more important than individual people. It is often led by a powerful dictator.

The Five Stages of Fascism

Paxton believes that you can't define fascism just by its ideas. Instead, he looks at how it develops. He created a model with five stages to show how a fascist movement can grow and take power.

1. Creating the Movement: It starts with ideas and discussions about the nation being weak.
2. Becoming a Real Party: The movement gains support and becomes a serious political party.
3. Getting Power: The party is invited to join the government, often by leaders who think they can control it.
4. Using Power: The party and its leader take control, often sharing power with other groups like the police or business leaders.
5. Becoming More Extreme: The government either becomes more and more radical, like Nazi Germany, or settles into a more traditional dictatorship, like Fascist Italy.

What is Fascism?

In his 2004 book The Anatomy of Fascism, Paxton gave a detailed definition. He described fascism as a form of political behavior focused on a nation's problems. It promotes ideas of unity and purity.

According to Paxton, fascism involves a party of strong nationalists who work with traditional leaders. They get rid of democracy and use violence to achieve their goals. They want to "cleanse" their society from within and expand their territory.

Awards and Personal Life

In 2009, the French government gave Paxton the Légion d'honneur. This is France's highest award for service to the country.

Outside of his work as a historian, Paxton is a passionate birdwatcher. He was once the president of a birdwatching club in New York.

Major Books

• Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order, 1940–1944 (1972): His most famous book, which changed how people view the Vichy government.
• Vichy France and the Jews (1981): Written with another historian, Michael Marrus, this book focused on the Vichy government's treatment of Jewish people.
• The Anatomy of Fascism (2004): Explains his ideas on what fascism is and how it comes to power.
• Europe in the Twentieth Century: A textbook he co-wrote about European history.

See also

In Spanish: Robert O. Paxton para niños

• Vichy syndrome