France in the Face of Chaos
Nihilistic violence is striking at the symbols of the Republic and eclipsing legitimate student protests.
The scenes of destruction in France, the looting of shops and assaults on public buildings have little to do with students’ demands but a lot to do with the desire to strike at the symbols of the Republic and destabilize a European democracy. It will take a long time to forget the misery of Oct. 17. What began as a peaceful demonstration against the state of secondary education and the cost of living, ended up with a minority committing extraordinary acts of violence. Images like that of the Limoges city hall in flames will be remembered as the moment when chaos took control of the country. You could blame these recent events on a number of things: the lack of action by the government in the face of social and education grievances; the paralysis of Emmanuel Macron who, after a decade in power, is a lame duck without room to maneuver and who is disliked intensely by a segment of society; a political class that for decades has delayed making the reforms needed to lift the economy out of the doldrums and reduce social inequality. None of the above should hide what is today fundamental: the protests are legitimate and, in many respects, justified, but violence never is.
France has already made the world used to images that in any other democracy would be unacceptable. It is enough to remember the recent demonstrations in Spain about the housing crisis to understand that it is possible to express discontent in the streets and demand social improvements without having to resort to violence. These issues can also be channeled into the political debate. Another distinctive French feature is the presence of police units with a long history of excessive force. On other occasions, as happened on Saturday, the police have been unable to maintain public order and prevent chaos. What is more, there is an entire revolutionary mythology that reemerges with every social movement. For example, in recent years, the protests against pension reform and the “Yellow Vests.” This evokes moments that have marked the identity of this country from the taking of the Bastille in 1789 and the Paris Commune in 1871 to May 1968. When violence is characterized by nihilisim and threatens public institutions as it did this weekend, it has a corrosive effect that not only harms legitimate causes and demands, but also impacts ordinary daily life and civil peace.
Raymond Aron said that the French are a people that every now and then bring about revolutions but never make reforms. Since Oct. 17, it is clear that reform is the answer to the wide range of problems. This is another way of saying politics. The priority is to reestablish order but neither the president nor his government can remain impassive when they are faced with a society where public outbursts regularly occur that are more violent each time. Without a parliamentary majority and with empty public coffers, the ability to act is very limited. However, doing nothing gives more fuel to the extremists who encourage the disorder and see a chance for their dream of a pending revolution, and to those who, like Marine Le Pen, are waiting to make electoral capital by promising law and order. U.S. Vice President JD Vance wasted no time in declaring via social media that these images from France are a warning about the dangers of a Democratic victory in his country. This message echoes Donald Trump’s warning after the mass arrival of immigrants in Ceuta this summer. A crisis like this is fuel for those who, outside or inside Europe, are embarked on a project to erode and destroy our democracies and are ready to exploit every opportunity.
The scenes of destruction in France, the looting of shops and assaults on public buildings have little to do with students’ demands but a lot to do with the desire to strike at the symbols of the Republic and destabilize a European democracy. It will take a long time to forget the misery of Oct. 17. What began as a peaceful demonstration against the state of secondary education and the cost of living, ended up with a minority committing extraordinary acts of violence. Images like that of the Limoges city hall in flames will be remembered as the moment when chaos took control of the country. You could blame these recent events on a number of things: the lack of action by the government in the face of social and education grievances; the paralysis of Emmanuel Macron who, after a decade in power, is a lame duck without room to maneuver and who is disliked intensely by a segment of society; a political class that for decades has delayed making the reforms needed to lift the economy out of the doldrums and reduce social inequality. None of the above should hide what is today fundamental: the protests are legitimate and, in many respects, justified, but violence never is.
France has already made the world used to images that in any other democracy would be unacceptable. It is enough to remember the recent demonstrations in Spain about the housing crisis to understand that it is possible to express discontent in the streets and demand social improvements without having to resort to violence. These issues can also be channeled into the political debate. Another distinctive French feature is the presence of police units with a long history of excessive force. On other occasions, as happened on Saturday, the police have been unable to maintain public order and prevent chaos. What is more, there is an entire revolutionary mythology that reemerges with every social movement. For example, in recent years, the protests against pension reform and the “Yellow Vests.” This evokes moments that have marked the identity of this country from the taking of the Bastille in 1789 and the Paris Commune in 1871 to May 1968. When violence is characterized by nihilisim and threatens public institutions as it did this weekend, it has a corrosive effect that not only harms legitimate causes and demands, but also impacts ordinary daily life and civil peace.
Raymond Aron said that the French are a people that every now and then bring about revolutions but never make reforms. Since Oct. 17, it is clear that reform is the answer to the wide range of problems. This is another way of saying politics. The priority is to reestablish order but neither the president nor his government can remain impassive when they are faced with a society where public outbursts regularly occur that are more violent each time. Without a parliamentary majority and with empty public coffers, the ability to act is very limited. However, doing nothing gives more fuel to the extremists who encourage the disorder and see a chance for their dream of a pending revolution, and to those who, like Marine Le Pen, are waiting to make electoral capital by promising law and order. U.S. Vice President JD Vance wasted no time in declaring via social media that these images from France are a warning about the dangers of a Democratic victory in his country. This message echoes Donald Trump’s warning after the mass arrival of immigrants in Ceuta this summer. A crisis like this is fuel for those who, outside or inside Europe, are embarked on a project to erode and destroy our democracies and are ready to exploit every opportunity.
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