France rioters rip up their streets because they can’t tackle the real cause of their anger
This opinion piece argues that recent riots in France and other European nations reflect a generational sense of entitlement and a lack of personal agency. The author suggests that protesters are repeating historical patterns of unrest without addressing the root causes of their dissatisfaction.
Why it matters
The analysis provides a sociological perspective on civil unrest, suggesting that modern protest movements may be driven more by psychological factors than specific policy grievances.
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Share A A A Après nous, le déluge . After us, the flood. We live for now, let the world go to hell when we’re not in it.
The nihilistic declaration is famously attributed to the extravagant Madame de Pompadour, mistress to pre-French Revolutionary King Louis XV. It was appropriated by the Parisian student protesters of May 1968, beloved of the avant-garde art scene which dramatised their “struggle”. They thought they were dismantling establishment values. It never occurred to the protesters that they were aping them.
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