The modern state is often traced back to the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. In this narrative, the current political order is tied to ideas of religious tolerance and respect for sovereignty. Those …
France Has Dipped Two Toes Into Authoritarianism – Will It Dive In?
A pair of controversial bills coming to the French Senate this month have many worried about the authoritarian pandering of the current administration, leading up to the elections next year. Some …
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France’s Controversial Security Bill and Police Violence
In October 2020, a bill called “global security” was proposed in France, which was highly controversial and triggered major protests that turned violent. Although several articles of the draft have …
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Recent Terror Attacks Deepen Polarization and Threaten Democracy in France
Fear, resentment and hate are making a comeback in France. Indeed, the recent terror attacks that took place in Paris, Nice and Lyon in October 2020 have reopened old wounds among the French …
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French Revolution Part II?
Photo above is a statue of Marianne, one of France’s biggest symbols who was considerably damaged during the yellow vest protests in 2018. Photo taken from the Huffington Post. France’s democratic …
Evaluating Potential Authoritarian Threats: Is French President Emmanuel Macron a Populist Leader?
Many consider National Front leader Marine Le Pen’s loss of the 2017 election a victory for the preservation of French democracy, as she is widely considered an anti-democratic populist. By Levitsky …
France’s Puzzling Polarization: A Case Study
Polarization can sometimes be a symptom of democratic erosion. A political climate that is sharply divided into two sides who are unable to compromise poses a major threat to a government founded on …
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The Populist Threat to the European Union
The European Union is often regarded as one of democracy’s largest triumphs. But as countries all over Europe face an increasingly threatening movement from the extreme right, should we be worried …
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