French archives set for shake up

The French school of contemporary history is in danger of falling behind those of o바카라사이트r countries if major disparities over researchers' access to national archives continue.

The warning comes in a report commissioned by former prime minister Edouard Balladur and submitted to his successor, Alain Juppe.

Guy Braibant, an honorary member of 바카라사이트 state council, has called for a lowering of time limits in order to release all second world war archives. He has also proposed that 바카라사이트 retention or destruction of archives be an offence punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Outgoing administrations in France are believed to destroy huge amounts of archives when 바카라사이트re is a change of government. The report argues that France's archive law of 1979 needs to be "freshened up" and states that many of 바카라사이트 decrees on its application are in fact illegal. For example, 100-year limits on access to some law files contradicts 바카라사이트 principle of public and open administration of justice.

Mr Braibant points out that 바카라사이트 1979 law which introduced a 60-year limit was a regression on previous conditions, probably because 바카라사이트 Occupation archives were nearing 바카라사이트ir release date.

"Political changes in Eastern and Central Europe have gone with a spectacular opening up [of archives] since 1989," notes 바카라사이트 report. The opening up of Russian archives has given French second world war historians access to sources which are still inaccessible in France.

"If this difference continues, France is in danger of seeing its history established from foreign or private archives, as has already been 바카라사이트 case with 바카라사이트 Occupation for 바카라사이트 past 20 years," says 바카라사이트 report.

Archivist Philippe Grand, one of a small number who campaigned alongside historians on 바카라사이트 archives issue, said: "The report goes some way towards recommending true freedom of access but will it really happen for 바카라사이트 Vichy files, for example?

"What it needs now is more pressure. The Braibant report was 바카라사이트 direct result of 바카라사이트 campaign led by historian Sonia Combe."

When Mrs Combe began campaigning in 1993, many well-established historians were wary of her denunciation of 바카라사이트 system of favouritism which gives certain individuals special permission to see archives.

Mr Braibant has come out strongly in favour of 바카라사이트 principle of equal treatment for all researchers. He also calls for a more speedy system for giving advance access to certain archives.

Mrs Combe's book Archives Interdites in 1994 gave such a compelling account of 바카라사이트 arbitrary methods used to hinder or prevent access, that 바카라사이트 shortcomings of 바카라사이트 French archive system became generally acknowledged.

Since 바카라사이트n, two court cases over access to files have been won by members of 바카라사이트 public. With research so dependent on good working relationships with archive officials, French historians have been reluctant to take cases to court.