Why France's latest protests echo May 1968 and centuries of street action
Lea Vuong, a Sydney University lecturer, says French protests follow a cultural tradition of mass action, not immigration.
Recent waves of protests across France follow a deeply rooted cultural tradition dating back centuries, not a new problem caused by immigration, says a French studies expert. An estimated 800,000 people marched in Paris on October 17.
Demonstrations spread nationwide after student protests began in September. Far-right politician Marine Le Pen blamed left-wing politicians and immigrants for the unrest.
Pauline Hanson warned the violence could come to Australia. Lea Vuong is a senior lecturer at Sydney University.
She says the protests show French identity shaped by the Revolution and earlier upheaval. She points to the May 1968 student demonstrations as proof.
Such movements are rooted in French culture, not immigration. Vuong describes protesting as a rite of passage for French youth entering political consciousness.
- October 17, approximately 800,000 people
- Paris march
- Current front-runner for French president
- Le Pen 2027 race
Why it mattersUnderstanding why mass protests happen helps us tell the difference between real social movements and unfairly blaming immigrant communities.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, though Australian far-right figures have cited the unrest to push immigration restrictions, showing how overseas protests influence local political narratives.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 5 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
