We and our partners do the following data processing based on your consent: store and/or access information on a device, personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. 'Police weren't overwhelmed by people protesting and marching' about education and cost of living Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Andrew Smith, Lecturer in Liberal Arts at Queen Mary University of London.
France's escalating social unrest has exposed a troubling disconnect between legitimate popular grievances and the government's increasingly security-focused response. Smith argues that the violence accompanying otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations reveals serious failures of policing, while President Emmanuel Macron's response offers "very little of substance." Drawing parallels with France's historic protest movements, Smith identifies a "convergence of causes" rooted in economic insecurity, educational inequalities and political paralysis. He warns that a repressive response risks deepening the crisis, calling instead for a renewed commitment to "participatory social democracy." Four soldiers dead, dozens injured in fire at Canada military base French PM says 'ultra-left' seeking 'deep unrest' ahead of election France protests draw global attention: Trump, Vance blame immigration for unrest Macron kicks off three-day Gulf tour, seeks securing fuel supplies amid crisis US midterms elections: Why data centers are becoming a key issue France: Police and protesters clash violently over the weekend Italy hit by violent cost-of-living protests, mostly minors arrested Les Misérables: Macron's 'sense of detachment' amid rising living costs and youth 'fears for future' © 2026 Copyright France 24 - All rights reserved.
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