Renier l'Empire pour penser l'Europe? Le cas de Saint-Simon

This paper aim at discussing De la réorganisation de la société européenne, the small book published by Cl.-H. de Saint-Simon (1760-1825) and A. Thierry (1795-1856) in 1814, just before the Congress of Vienna. To explore the political and cultural implications posed by this brochure, I will focus on two points: a reflection on the content and interpretations of the Saint-Simon’s vision for a United Europe, and a research to shed light on possible contamination: borrowings, echoes, or simply neighborhoods. Finally, it will try to say some words about his Napoleonic flavor: to which the question mark in the title of this contribution refers.