France's deep-rooted protest culture and recent events

Thousands of people have been detained recently as protests organized to protest living costs and poor conditions in schools in France turned into violence and clashes with the police. While outgoing President Emmanuel Macron condemned the destruction, historians point out that this situation is part of a deep-rooted tradition of civil disobedience dating back to the 1789 revolution.

In addition to peaceful marches attended by hundreds of thousands against rising living costs and inadequate conditions in schools in France in recent weeks, acts of violence also occurred. On a single Saturday, at least 2,400 people were detained in clashes between demonstrators and police across the country; vehicles were set on fire during the events, public buildings were raided, shops were looted, and a historic town hall was engulfed in flames.

Following the events, incumbent President Emmanuel Macron criticized the violent actions in a statement on Sunday, stating, "How can the French do this to France? Nothing can justify the destruction, we all feel anger and shame." Meanwhile, experts and human rights defenders claim that the police have been applying overly harsh tactics, such as rubber bullet launchers and stun grenades, for the past month.

Historians and political scientists emphasize that mass protests and civil participation in France have a deep-rooted tradition dating back to the 1789 revolution that overthrew the monarchy. The right to demonstrate, guaranteed by the constitution, is accepted in French society as a fundamental value that goes beyond just voting, ensuring that elites hear the voice of the people.

Political scientist Fabien Jobard and researcher Della Sudda state that the number of detentions in recent weeks has reached approximately 8,000, dwarfing historical figures from the past, while distrust between the public and the government is also increasing.