Две Франции сквозь призму социальных движений

Abstract

Two types of social movements characterized by the causes they advocate for and the means implemented, without fully excluding each other, are currently sweeping across France. Facing a category of social movement embodied primarily by the figure of the «Gilets jaunes» whose material claims dominate, another type of movement is gaining strength focusing mainly on promoting principles that fall more under values and «vivre ensemble» (living together), such as gender issues and those concerning Islam. These differences translate into a differentiated use of the means of struggle. The former primarily rely on their physical presence in the streets and the latter on their pervasiveness in cyberspace through social media. This divergence affects their ability to make their goals prevail. Social movements prioritizing nonmaterial causes aligned with the ruling elite’s – the elite bloc – culture and ideology manage easily to place their actions on the Government’s agenda. However, the movements of «peripheral France» such as the «Gilets Jaunes» find a faint echo among the ruling class and are marginalized in terms of public policy- making.