At the center of this first volume lie the theories of social science propagated by authors such as Helvetius, Holbach, Morelly and Mably as well as Rousseaus concept of the "general will" of the people. The author describes the development of the French Revolution as a checkered struggle between the followers of a social balance of power and those who stood for the pure ideals of the Revolution as found in the teachings of Babeuf during the Reign of Terror.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Backes ist Stellvertretender Direktor des Hannah-Arendt-Instituts für Totalitarismusforschung und lehrt an der TU Dresden an der TU Dresden.