this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2026
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47
The French Are Very Worried, and That’s Making Things Worse (www.theatlantic.com)
submitted 1 week ago by CAVOK@lemmy.world to c/europe@feddit.org
36 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The belief that the country is on a downward slope fuels the appeal of radicalism.

top 36 comments
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[–] A_norny_mousse@piefed.social 26 points 6 days ago (1 children)

And how did we (it's not only France) get there? Neo-fucking-liberalism. Cronyism. Legal corruption.

That's what needs to Change. Who has that in their political program? The neofascists just say it but it's noise to distract from the above. Which is why they're getting paid by industrialists and foreign actors that want to destabilise us.

Will the dissatisfied masses ever realise that? I think we can help them.

So who really has Change in their political program? That's who we need to boost.

Seriously I'm so sick of hearing this shit. It's been the same ever since practically every EU country ate the austerity narrative and the new right began to rise.

[–] Malica@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 days ago

Social media brainwashing also plays a massive role.

[–] Cherry@piefed.social 22 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Radical is used as a dirty word lately. It’s been used to imply wrongdoing or being associated with terrorism.

It’s not. Don’t listen to media language like this. Don’t be scared to think radically and support revolution.

Another aspect is other people acting like France shouldn’t do this. It’s like telling someone else to stop their momentum. Others might sit comfortable with being taken advantage of, but others don’t. They get up and do something.

[–] A_norny_mousse@piefed.social 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

lately

I can hear this in Trump's voice. And those people aren't even radical. But still, painting radicalism as fundamentally bad and illegal and whatnot is muuuuch older than that.

[–] Cherry@piefed.social 0 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Nope. We need radical thinkers more than ever. The crazy sheep following the orange turd think they are that. They are not.

[–] Gsus4@programming.dev 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Radical by itself means nothing, you always need to give concrete examples alongside. e.g. creating a state company that employs people to build public housing. That is not radical, but we need people who think that...even if fascists and corpos will call that radical in comparison with their own dogmas...I'm not sure how to use the word at this point, you always create a muddle.

[–] A_norny_mousse@piefed.social 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Nope. We need radical thinkers more than ever.

I never disagreed with that.

[–] Cherry@piefed.social 2 points 5 days ago

Agree. Not sure why I had the nope. I was on Brain fart mode

[–] Miaou@jlai.lu 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Calling JLM far-left is a dog whistle at this point. What else can one expect from an American rag?

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

The belief that the country is on a downward slope fuels the appeal of radicalism.

Because radicalism is good for the economy?
I don't think so, they should rather kick out Marine Le Pen and Front National.
That could do a great deal to create better stability and progress. Even if extremists manage to improve the economy in the beginning, they always end up ruining it, just look at Hitler and Putin, and then there are the ones like Trump that ruin it right from the beginning.

[–] killingspark@feddit.org 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is only a valid argument if you still believe that anyone is able to improve the economic situation.

Without that believe everything becomes a fight for pieces of a decreasing pie.

Which explains increasing formation of tighter in- and outgroups and the increased support for the political ideology supporting this kind of thinking.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is only a valid argument if you still believe that anyone is able to improve the economic situation.

No it isn't, because the radicals will destroy the economy way worse, and that is what will make it a fight for scraps.

[–] killingspark@feddit.org 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

That argument only makes sense if you think the political centre would protect you from the fight for scraps that is already happening.

There is growing evidence that the political centre will throw even more parts of the population into poverty so that the rich can keep getting richer.

I am not saying the radical parties are necessarily the fix to that, certainly not the radical liberatarian and especially not the radical right.

I'm just saying the ~~radical~~ political centre is also not doing so great at making the economy work for everyone.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

the radical centre

That's an oxymoron.

[–] killingspark@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radical_centrism

Nope, it's what many parties in western nations have become.

General policies

  • An overriding commitment to fiscal responsibility,[59] even if it entails means testing of social programs.[75][76]
  • An overriding commitment to reforming public education, whether by equalizing spending on school districts,[77] offering school choice,[78] hiring better teachers,[79] or empowering existing principals and teachers.[80]
  • A commitment to market-based solutions in health care, energy, the environment, etc., so long as the solutions are carefully regulated by government to serve the public good.[81][82] The policy goal, says Matthew Miller, is to "harness market forces for public purposes".[6]
  • A commitment to provide jobs for everyone willing to work, whether by subsidizing jobs in the private sector[83] or by creating jobs in the public sector.[84]
  • A commitment to need-based rather than race-based affirmative action;[85][86] more generally, a commitment to race-neutral ideals.[87]
  • A commitment to participate in institutions and processes of global governance, and be of genuine assistance to people in the developing nations.[7][88]

Edit: But if your point was, that I made a mistake there: Yes you are right, I meant the political centre not the radical centre.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it -2 points 6 days ago (3 children)

I don’t think so, they should rather kick out Marine Le Pen and Front National.

This only means that you are hiding the problems under the rug, it is like outlawing AfD: you maybe remove an immediate problem but you don't remove the people who think that Le Pen or Front National have the solutions, and more importantly, you don't solve the (supposed) problems that causes their rise.
And these people will come back to bite you sooner or later, and it will be far worse than whatever could happen trying to solve the problem now.

[–] HieroProtagonist@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

... it is like outlawing AfD: you maybe remove an immediate problem but you don’t remove the people...

Oh, you surely do: The radical elements who will take up arms after a ban of the AfD will be removed... one way or another. This leaves on the one hand the voters who voted for AfD because they thought they are a valid party - they will move towards other, less radical parties like the CDU or FDP where their beliefs will be watered down. On the other hand there are now those who will be put in a state of apathy after a ban - the "Politikverdrossenheit": Those will still rant online and in their inner circles, but they will have lost most will to engange in politics.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Oh, you surely do: The radical elements who will take up arms after a ban of the AfD will be removed… one way or another.

Oh yes, in the end there are only so much of them how many could they are? A couple million people ? Two hundred thousand ? Twenty thousand ? What's the number that make right the same thing AfD want supposely to do to people who has no right to be in German in the first place, with the difference that AfD removing them simply means sending them home ?

You are an hypocrite: you have no problem using the same methods you protest against simply because this time these methods fit your agenda. And because you have no better argument than violence.

This leaves on the one hand the voters who voted for AfD because they thought they are a valid party - they will move towards other, less radical parties like the CDU or FDP where their beliefs will be watered down.

No, these voters will see what you did and will vote for even more extremist parties. You are a fool if you are thinking that to win these votes you can simply ban a party and then remove (violently ?) who protest this act. Not to consider the fact that these voters vote for AfD exactly because in their opinion CDU e FDP sucks.

On the other hand there are now those who will be put in a state of apathy after a ban - the “Politikverdrossenheit”: Those will still rant online and in their inner circles, but they will have lost most will to engange in politics.

Just to say, Hitler begin his rise chatting in bars, so maybe it is not such good thing.

[–] HieroProtagonist@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Oh yes, in the end there are only so much of them how many could they are?

How many who would take up arms? A couple of hundreds, perhaps low thousands... i think police can deal with that.

You are an hypocrite: you have no problem using the same methods you protest against simply because this time these methods fit your agenda. And because you have no better argument than violence.

My agenda is preserving the free and democratic basic order ("Freiheitlich demokratische Grundordnung") as intended by the creators of the German constitution. If this makes me a hypocrite i can live with that.

No, these voters will see what you did and will vote for even more extremist parties

If the AfD is banned, all direct successors are automatically banned. If there ever forms a new party without direct attachments and it poses the same threat to the constitution it will also be removed.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 6 days ago (1 children) 
Oh yes, in the end there are only so much of them how many could they are?

How many who would take up arms?

I think way more than you think. 10/15 years ago you could be right, now I am not that sure.

A couple of hundreds, perhaps low thousands… i think police can deal with that.

Ok, so you are ok with removing low thousands citizen in order to not solve a problem but only to hide it under the rug.
What can be go wrong ?

You are an hypocrite: you have no problem using the same methods you protest against simply because this time these methods fit your agenda. And because you have no better argument than violence.

My agenda is preserving the free and democratic basic order (“Freiheitlich demokratische Grundordnung”) as intended by the creators of the German constitution. If this makes me a hypocrite i can live with that.

I don't think they meant to use violence anyway. And in your way you don't presenve anything, you impose it and it is very different.

No, these voters will see what you did and will vote for even more extremist parties

If the AfD is banned, all direct successors are automatically banned. If there ever forms a new party without direct attachments and it poses the same threat to the constitution it will also be removed.

Nope. I don't really think that an eventual AfD 2.0, which would learn from how and why the AfD was removed, could be automatically banned or that you would be able to ban them without streching the law because the first time you will get people like AfD, or the first generation of Le Pen or guys like Vannacci and Salvini.
The second round will have people more intelligent (like Marine Le Pen which politically speaking is an improvement over the first Le Pen) which would present the same program in a more suitable way. Honestly, speaking for Italian situation, if there would be some more presentable guy than Vannacci or Salvini who is able to present the same program in a better and less extreme way, it would win without any problem. Same for Le Pen and AfD.

You people still do not understand that AfD, Vannacci, Le Pen, Trump and Right extremism are not a cause, they are an effect. Solve the causes and the problem is gone, cure only the effects and the problems only become worse.

And as I said, you don't solve the problem simply hiding it under the rug.

[–] HieroProtagonist@feddit.org 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Ok, so you are ok with removing low thousands citizen in order to not solve a problem but only to hide it under the rug.

"Removing" only in the sense of prosecuting them for taking up arms against the legitimate government and wanting to overthrow the foundation of our current democracy in Germany. Perhaps some of them may be get hurt in the process... but this is something you can expect if you start a armed revolt.

And if it is needed to cut a bit grass every couple of decades, well, i think the government can arrange that.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 6 days ago (1 children) 
Ok, so you are ok with removing low thousands citizen in order to not solve a problem but only to hide it under the rug.

“Removing” only in the sense of prosecuting them for taking up arms against the legitimate government and wanting to overthrow the foundation of our current democracy in Germany. Perhaps some of them may be get hurt in the process… but this is something you can expect if you start a armed revolt.

So what's the problem of "removing" a few thousands illegal immigrants (for example) in order to avoid that the right far parties have "ammunitions" against the democracy ?
Or, better, what's the problem with "removing" all the criminals in the cities that make living the cities impossible in certain zones or after a given time, removing even more "ammunitions" to the far right ?

I am pretty sure that people in the cities would love to be able to walk around their city without the fear to be victim of a petty crime.

But again, you are focusing on the effects, not the causes.

And if it is needed to cut a bit grass every couple of decades, well, i think the government can arrange that.

And if it is needed to deport a bit of illegal immigrants every couple of years, well, I think the government can arrange that.
Still sounding good to you ?

[–] HieroProtagonist@feddit.org 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

So what’s the problem of “removing” a few thousands illegal immigrants (for example) in order to avoid that the right far parties have “ammunitions” against the democracy ?

Removing the ammunition of the enemy by letting yourself getting shot by it is.... possible, but foolish.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 5 days ago

Removing the ammunition of the enemy by letting yourself getting shot by it is… possible, but foolish.

So, AfD say that there are too many illegal immigrants, people see that it is true (come on, you just need to walk around the city) and they voted them.

You remove the illegal immigrants, AfD what can say now ?
If they say there are still illegal immigrants and people don't see them (or do not consider this a problem anymore) then they consider AfD good-for-nothings (ok, some will continue to vote for them, idiots are always present) Result: AfD has not anymore a way to weaponize illegal immigration, you remove an "ammunition" in their propagandistic "weapon".

Do this for almost every point AfD make and you end up with a society that is better and AfD gone back to the irrelevant group it was when born, like every extremist party.

Some problem would not be completely solved, it is not possible, but you just need to lower them below a threshold that make it bearable and you remove them anyway from the arsenal the far right parties can use in their propaganda.

Let me give you an example of what already happened in the same exact way: back then, in my city (Milan, Italy), every now and then there would be someone at an intersection offering to wash your windshield; people didn’t mind because it happened only occasionally—in fact, they often accepted the service in exchange for a few coins. When these people started showing up at every single intersection (sometimes even more than one person at a single intersection), becoming pushy, and causing minor damage to cars if you refused, people began to see them as an increasingly annoying problem.

Did you know what happened ?

What happened was that, after two elections, the candidate who promised to eliminate the problem was elected—after the other candidates had twice downplayed, if not outright denied, the problem. And he won because he was able to target these people and brand them as a problem (in part they truly were, but for the most part they were just desperate people), and the electorate identified with what he was saying—they had firsthand experience with exactly what the “extremist” candidate was describing.

If the ruling party had addressed the issue, this extremist candidate would never have won: what could he have latch onto? A few persons who occasionally wants to wash your windshield at an intersection? If he had used that as a campaign issue, he would have been ridiculed.

Basically the ruling parties decided to offer the extremist candidates ammunitions, the same errors the ruling parties in most of Europe are doing right now.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That's like complaining that putting murderers in prison doesn't stop people's murderous thoughts.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I get what you are saying but to me this seems an oversimplification simply because voting is something act on, not only thoughts to do.
A more correct analogy would be "it is the same thing tha not putting murderes in jail and to pretend murderes do not exist and then complaining because the problem do not solve itself".

The fact is that Le Pen says something a certain quote of voters consider true (for whatever reasons and I am not judging it) and the only way to "remove" Le Pen is solve the problems she points out, it is the only real solution.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The issue is that far right propaganda is self-sustaining, as long as people are in that swamp they're not getting out of that. Banning far right parties is not enough by itself to drain that particular swamp, but it cannot be drained as long as these parties are legal.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I disagree with your "The issue is that far right propaganda is self-sustaining" It is not. Or better, it is not at this scale.
Extreme parties always existed, now they are simply on the rise because the other parties simply stopped to care.
If these parties were illegal, they would already have been disbanded.
So the mere fact that they are still there means that they are not illegal, or at least it is not that easy to demonstrate that they are illegal. You cannot disband a party just because you think it is illegal or you don't agree with it.

We want to send back the extremist parties ? Good, what about fighting the cause instead of curing the effects ? Instead of continually draining the swamp, what about to avoid it fills up ?
The assumption is always that this parties exist because people are extremist but nobody explain how can be possible that an extremist population never voted (or never built) an extremist party up until now.

Cannot be that these extremist parties are an answer to the fact that the traditional (Left) parties decide to not care anymore about people ?
I mean, if the first thing Merz said after the AfD won the local elections was "we will continue this way", it means that he don't even try to understand why they had lost.
To remain in your swamp analogy, they don't even try to understand why the swamp if filling up, they are just trying to drain it using the wrong tools.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I didn't say that it's one or the other, both are necessary.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

True, but it better to start avoiding the swamp to fill up and then starting to drain it then draining it when it is still filling up.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

Governments can do several things at the same time.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

it is like outlawing AfD

Although I agree that outlawing a party is not a good idea, this is a straw man argument, because I never claimed they should outlaw , but only that they should vote those fuckers way out of any influence.
But people are stupid, the average person is dumb, and 50% are even dumber. 🤷‍♀️

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 0 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Although I agree that outlawing a party is not a good idea, this is a straw man argument, because I never claimed they should outlaw , but only that they should vote those fuckers way out of any influence.

They already did it last time. And it failed for a simple reason: when you put together everyone with the sole common thread being that they don’t want someone specific to win, you will win in the immediate but then you fail big.
France should have learned what happen in Italy every two election cycle: the right win, then the left put together everyone to not let the right win, the left win and then they fail miserably exactly because there are too many people together that has not a common idea if not "[she/he/them] must not win", and with this and we end up with a new election cycle or a "technical" governement which in any case end with the right winning in the end.

But people are stupid, the average person is dumb, and 50% are even dumber. 🤷‍♀️

Calling stupid all the people who don't think like you or that say they had a problem is the best way to gift them to the right.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No literally people are morons that don't think or care about what happens around them. It's not about disagreeing, it's also on simple facts of reality. Antivaxxers is an example. Fascists is another. But there are more than it is possible to state here. More than half the population are either ignorant or misguided about the simplest things.

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I agree. But just calling an antivaxxer or a fascist stupid do not solve anything, if not make thing even worse.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

Acknowledging the problem is the first step to solve it.
It doesn't help to call donkeys horses.