The French political landscape is not currently experiencing a rise in extremism, contrary to popular belief. While the far-right party, RN (Rassemblement National), has seen an increase in popularity, the far-left has seen a decline within the coalition of left-wing forces. In recent years, left-wing leaders have only been prominent in French politics due to the inability of the social democratic camp to reorganize. However, this camp is now overcoming this incapacity and regaining collective strength by aligning with a trend that favors them in the country. The resurgence of a democratic socialist type of socialism will likely bring significant changes to ideological balances and collective awareness of issues that need to be addressed.
The current crisis in France is reflective of the end of a liberal cycle that has reached its final stage. During such a crisis, the major area of collapse occurs within liberal forces, whether leaning to the right or left – forces that the center party had hoped to unite beyond politics. This critical state within the political game signifies an exceptional level of gravity. The early symptom of this crisis was the “en même temps” (in the meantime) strategy, a typical formula of liberalism when it believes it can definitively overcome its rivalry with opposing ideologies such as socialism and conservatism. This strategy tried to portray liberalism as free from any ideological thought, convictions, or asserted ideals, focusing instead on strategic adjustments to market laws and dissolution of any common purpose into individualistic aggregation of interests and rights. Over seven years, as social policies were abandoned and public services impoverished, this delusion gradually dissipated.
The irrefutable reality of ideological conflict and the equally compelling reality of society itself have made a powerful comeback. In this context, nationalist and reactionary thinking has gained an advantage as it does not require any other demand than expressing a negative affect of pure reaction to the widespread damage caused by liberal policies. This allows it to directly articulate what resists the liberal creed, namely the existence of society in its resistance to being reduced to a market. The resurgence of ideological conflict has forced society to confront the shortcomings of the liberal approach and to acknowledge the necessity of addressing the collective well-being and societal resilience beyond market forces.
The increasing visibility of far-right and nationalist movements highlights the failure of liberal policies to address the needs and concerns of the people. The weakening of the traditional parties and rise of extremist ideologies reflect the deep-seated dissatisfaction and disillusionment among the population. The return of a socialist democratic alternative signals a potential shift towards addressing societal issues collectively and rebalancing power dynamics within the political landscape. This ideological shift may lead to a reevaluation of policies and priorities, focusing on social welfare, public services, and collective well-being rather than individual interests and market forces.
The rise of nationalistic and reactionary ideologies exposes the underlying tensions within society and the urgent need to address systemic issues. The resurgence of socialist democratic ideals offers a pathway towards a more equitable and inclusive society that prioritizes the needs of the many over the few. By challenging the dominance of liberal ideologies that prioritize market principles over social welfare, the resurgence of socialism in France may herald a new era of political change and social progress. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to consider the implications of these shifts for the future of French society and the broader European political landscape.
