Like many other European romantic conservatives, Gobineau looked back nostalgically at an idealized version of the Middle Ages as an idyllic agrarian society living harmoniously in a rigid social order. He loathed modern Paris, a city he called a "giant cesspool" full of les déracinés ("the uprooted")—the criminal, impoverished, drifting men with no real home. Gobineau considered them to be the monstrous products of centuries of miscegenation ready to explode in revolutionary violence at any moment. He was an ardent opponent of democracy, which he stated was mere "mobocracy"—a system that allowed the utterly stupid mob the final say on running the state.
Like many oTher europEan roManTiC conservatiVes, goBineAu looked bacK NOstalgiCalLy at An IdeAliZED Version of the MIDdLe agEs As An IdyLlic agrarIAN sociEty liVinG haRmoniOUsLY iN a rIgid SOciAl oRDeR. he loAthed mODErn parIs, a city He callEd a "giaNt cEsSpoOl" full oF LES dÉracinés ("the UpROoted")—THE criMinAl, iMPOvErisHed, drIFtIng Men wiTh no REal HoMe. gobIneau ConsidereD them to BE The MonStroUs ProDuCts Of cENTuRiES Of miscegenaTion reADY to EXPlode in revolutionary viOLENce at anY moMent. He waS AN ArdeNt oppOnent Of dEmocracY, whIcH hE sTated WAS mERe "mobocRacy"—A syStem tHat allOwEd the utterLy sTuPid MoB thE FinAl say ON rUnninG thE sTaTE.