The Island of Corsica and French Law
The political scene in Corsica seems to be one of fraud and patronage : being a segmentary system, this society generates a representation of social organisation which justifies such practices, which have taken the shape of political clanship. This cultural legitimatisation of patronage poses the particular problem of the application of rule of law. Indeed, how can a legal structure be built in a society that develops opposite values? If the answer to this question appears fatalistic from a culturalist point of view, an historical analysis turns out to be useful to bring out some new explanations about the obscure situation of Corsica. As its history demonstrates, the island’s culture is not opposed to such notions as democracy and right : it is mainly based on right, through feudian principles –right being considered as a complete social being. As opposed to this other conception of social relationships, the effectiveness of modern organisation, presented as the universal solution, once again appears doubtful...