Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NapApps (Napoleonic Job Applications: from Personal Pleas to Modern Curriculum Vitae in Early 19th-Century Europe)
Período documentado: 2023-09-01 hasta 2024-08-31
The project focused on the effects of removing social barriers and introducing open public employment opportunities following the French Revolution of 1789. The Napoleonic regime, known for its meritocratic ideals, promoted the principle of ‘la carrière ouverte aux talents’ (career open to talent). The project examined the emergence of a professional culture based on knowledge and skills, while also investigating how older notions of merit, rooted in hereditary ethos, coexisted.
Understanding the origins and development of meritocracy, as well as the evolving concept of merit, provides valuable insights into past and contemporary issues related to equality, social mobility, and recognition of individual achievements.
The project analysed a substantial corpus of 800 employment applications for administrative roles in Napoleonic Europe. It assessed the rhetoric and individual characteristics of applicants, addressing how they portrayed themselves, the values they espoused, and the factors influencing their success or failure.
The project has been disseminated through two journal articles, three forthcoming book chapters, and two forthcoming books (to be published by the end of 2025). The researcher enhanced the project's visibility by organising one workshop and a final conference and participating in approximately 20 events across the U.S. and Europe. Additionally, public engagement was supported through various events and social media promotions.