Analysis of an ongoing social movement in Paris
I chose to write this reflection in English rather than in French for two reasons. First, to offer an internal global analysis to a larger scope of people everywhere. But also to account for a more general upcoming trend questioning the current world situation. An increasing number of citizens have started to react in the wake of the Panama Papers or other world events.
The 'Up All Night' movement started in Paris a few weeks ago. It was triggered by a constitutional amendment proposal regarding employment and particularly affecting the younger generation. What became disrupting, was the fact that it originated from the current socialist administration. The cup was already full, not only for a majority of people, who had clearly cast a warning vote at the end of last year but also for a weary, growing mass of young people, who cannot see any future in the present French social society. Consequently, the youth started contesting the way the aging leadership deals with problems endangering their future. It was clearly predictable. But, as usual, none of the establishment nor political parties did anything to modify business as usual. Well, maybe not this time... The cup was full to the brim.
Spring is not only a natural cycle of rebirth. It is also a human awakening. History tells us that it is the ripe time when most social movements will start, ending sometimes in revolutions. In 1776, it became the American Revolution for Independence. In 1789, the French Revolution was meant to get rid of the King and the Church in order to bring more social justice. Both movements were inspired by the Enlightenment, an 18th-century European philosophical movement. French thinkers such as Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau or Diderot had played a major role to inspire a change of society.
The 'Up All Night' movement started in Paris on a symbolic location. The Parisian Place de la République is a right-bank square named to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the French Revolution, which, as a reminder, also started on another square known today as Place de la Bastille. (The French National Day on July 14 is known as Bastille Day). In the middle of the Place de la République square, there is a statue of Marianne, an incarnation of the French Republic. Marianne's effigy is surrounded by three other minor statues standing for liberté-égalité-fraternité, the French Republic motto. There, Marianne also holds a tablet representing the 'Droits de l'Homme'. Human rights have since become a United Nations prerogative inspired by the American and the French Revolutions.
Yet, amidst the troubled times of the 21st century, many grass-roots citizens are questioning the legitimacy of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It is not a surprise for the nation's youth to express their own legitimate concern for a bleak future. Countries like the USA or France tend to showcase their democracies as a standard to the rest of the world. But democracy is not a permanent state. It needs to be continually adjusted “by the people, for the people”.
The French capital has already been the stage of such an adjustment. In May 1968, the uprising forced the government of Charles de Gaulle to resign. The French political parties have started to hear the message. They may well fear another historical comeback. They first thought it would not last. They pretended to ignore the movement in order to remain in place. Now, they realize they are walking on thin ice.
We are living in a drastically new era that strives for a better world. Recent global events have fostered a new international concept shared by millions at the four corners of the Earth: climate change, globalization, migrations, the Greek crisis, the 'Podemos' movement in Spain, or the 'Panama Papers' outbreak to name just a few. Of course, this is also a time for evil organizations to slither into the global chasm of the new millennium. The fight against ISIL or the importance of ultra-right movements like Donald Trump in America or the Front National in France (led by Marine Le Pen). A similar situation took place at the Fall of the Roman Empire when barbarian troupes invaded most of the western world.
Today's youth may have started to express vocally what many other French people feel silent. While campaigning, President Hollande had shown a desire to legitimate voter's blank ballots. But of course, nothing was done. It would become too significant for the establishment to realize that so many people have had enough of all the blank promises made by political parties. The leaders have failed to understand that our world is definitively different. Or at least, they have tried to ignore the fact. The new motto has clearly become “no right, nor left”. Modern citizens are weary of the politicians' unheeded promises. Leaders forget that the weight of History or the wheel of time are irrevocable machines. Life goes through cycles.
The 'Up All Night' movement refuses to have any leader. This dismays the media or the establishment. Of course, there is a reason for doing so. It is a clear sign, that things are different or at least wish to remain different for the time being. Many political leaders have felt the pulse and try to deal with the daily venue with care and concern. The biggest political blunder they could make would be to be tempted to stop the movement with the police forces.
It would surely fail and precipitate a more general contestation. Stiff negotiations are underway. But the determination remains intact. Therefore, it will be interesting to follow up the news in the coming days to know whether this is the beginning of a new Spring of 2016.
Christian Sorand
No comments:
Post a Comment