Popular Anger in France from 1789 to 2026 and the Future of Europe

France is arguably one of the countries in history most profoundly affected by popular uprisings. From 1789 to the present day, France has served almost as a laboratory for this tradition. Russia underwent a regime-changing popular revolution in 1917, China in 1911 and 1949, and Haiti in 1791 through its slave revolt. However, the uprisings in France have repeatedly shaken not only the country's internal structure but also Europe as a whole, shaping the continent in the process.

The impact of popular uprisings during the 1789 French Revolution marked a turning point that brought down the absolute monarchy, abolished feudal privileges, and spread the idea of popular sovereignty across Europe. The storming of the Bastille, the Women's March on Versailles, and peasant revolts radicalised parliamentary reforms, overthrew the monarchy, gave birth to the republic, and paved the way for the Napoleonic era. This event transformed not only France but also the political map of Europe.

Coming to the present day, the 2005 suburban riots, the 2018 Yellow Vest movement, and the strikes and popular demonstrations that took place in October 2026, and which appear likely to continue, are part of an ongoing pattern rooted in the same underlying tensions, albeit erupting at different social levels. These three waves have exposed the fractures in France's social fabric, economic injustice, and the wounds of its colonial past that have never truly healed.

What Was the Nature of the 2005 Uprising?

The events that began in the Paris suburbs in 2005 were triggered by the deaths of two North African teenagers who were electrocuted while fleeing from the police. Within ten days, thousands of cars were set on fire and public buildings were vandalised. At the heart of the unrest lay unemployment, discrimination, the police's use of the term "rabble", and the exclusion of young people from immigrant backgrounds. In the suburbs, where populations of North African and sub-Saharan African origin were concentrated, unemployment rates reached as high as 40 percent. This was a direct reflection of France's colonial past and the mentality that continues to survive to this day. The children of families arriving from former colonies such as Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, and Senegal were experiencing the failure of integration, despite the country's supposed ideology of "republican equality". This was because France was pursuing a policy of assimilation rather than integration. The events of 2005 should be understood as a postcolonial uprising: the anger coming from Africa had erupted on French soil.

Where Did the Yellow Vests Come From?

The Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018, had a different social base. Rising fuel taxes, the erosion of purchasing power, and anger towards the elites drove the provincial and middle classes onto the streets. Windows were smashed in Paris's affluent neighbourhoods, and the Macron government was forced to back down. Unlike the ethnic and suburban character of the 2005 unrest, the Yellow Vest movement was primarily a class-based revolt. Yet both movements shared a common denominator: a loss of trust in the system. In 2005, it was young people from the suburbs; in 2018, it was the "forgotten people" who rose up against the same state.

The 2026 Uprisings Are Different

The events of autumn 2026 appear to represent a convergence of these two traditions. Student protests that began in mid-September at a high school in the Paris suburbs, driven by teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and poorly maintained school buildings, quickly spread. Hundreds of high schools were blockaded. These protests were joined by strikes among public-sector workers, who took to the streets to protest budget cuts, wage freezes, and the rising cost of living.

In October, the Yellow Vests returned to the scene. On 17 October, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country. Violence erupted in some areas, resulting in arrests and injuries. Students, trade unions, pensioners, and former Yellow Vest protesters came together in the same demonstrations. Their demands were clear: equality in education, lower living costs, the reversal of budget cuts, and a political elite that has become detached from society finally listening to the people.

The relationship between these three events is clear. The 2005 uprising exposed the crisis of integration and discrimination; 2018 brought economic injustice to the forefront; and 2026 revealed a broader wave of social anger converging around education and public spending. Together, they demonstrate that the "republican model" France has long presented to the world as one of its greatest exports is little more than rhetoric, while its foundations are crumbling in practice. The anger accumulated in the suburbs, the impoverishment felt in provincial areas, and the younger generation's growing sense of having no future are different manifestations of the same system.

Do the Losses of the Colonial Empire Still Have an Impact?

France's loss of its African colonies was not merely an economic blow; it was also a profound identity crisis and a social trauma. Following the independence processes of the 1950s and 1960s, waves of migration from former colonies filled the country's suburbs. In the 2005 unrest, a significant proportion of the young people involved were of North African origin. The colonial-era mission of "civilising" others was replaced in the postcolonial period by policies of "assimilation". Yet the outcome has been economic exclusion and an identity crisis.

While France continues to pursue influence in Africa through policies inherited from its colonial past, it remains unable to confront the presence of people of African origin within its own borders. It cannot fully accept their place in French society and continues to ignore their experiences. The 2005 uprising was, in a sense, the return of France's colonial archives to its own doorstep. Although the ethnic dimension has been less pronounced in the 2026 demonstrations, the student movements in the suburbs are rooted in the same historical accumulation of grievances. The colonial legacy remains an open wound, alive both in France's foreign policy and in the fabric of its domestic society. It seems increasingly difficult to heal this wound.

The demands behind the latest events go far beyond narrow economic grievances. When students call for "better education", they are essentially demanding equal opportunities. When striking workers demand "higher wages", they are challenging the injustice embedded in the system. And when the Yellow Vests demand to be heard, they are calling for the restoration of the people's voice. This is the 21st-century version of the 1789 slogan: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". But this time, the target is not an absolute monarchy; it is the inequality produced by globalisation and neoliberal policies.

The Consequences for France Will Be Severe

What could happen next? In the short term, the government may be forced to make concessions on the budget, while political instability is likely to increase. Ahead of the 2027 elections, both far-right and far-left forces could gain strength. Social polarisation may deepen, with tensions escalating between the suburbs and city centres, the young and the elderly, and native-born citizens and immigrants. Economically, strikes and demonstrations could disrupt production, tourism, and everyday life. In the long term, France's claim to uphold a "social model", which has already been reduced to little more than a slogan, could collapse entirely.

The Impact of Events in France on Europe

The consequences for Europe are inevitable as well. France is one of the founding members and driving forces of the European Union. Instability in Paris would weaken decision-making processes in Brussels. In Italy, Spain, and Germany, where similar economic difficulties are being experienced, movements resembling the Yellow Vests could gain momentum and encouragement. Debates over migration and integration would become increasingly polarised across Europe. France's weakening would further undermine the EU's position in global competition, which is already in a very poor state.

Furthermore, if France's loss of influence in Africa accelerates, opportunities will emerge for other actors seeking to fill the vacuum. Europe cannot remain an effective power abroad while failing to preserve social peace within its own borders. The continent will increasingly turn inward. Under such circumstances, scenarios involving chaos and conflict, both within individual countries and between European states, could become inevitable.

France has been shaped by popular uprisings since 1789. Yet every uprising has represented not only an opportunity for the system to renew itself but also an indication of the accumulation of unresolved problems. The events of 2005, 2018, and 2026 are different symptoms of the same underlying illness: inequality, the failure of integration, and the denial of the colonial legacy. Unless France treats these wounds — and doing so appears extremely difficult — the streets will continue to speak, once again and with even greater force. History has repeatedly recorded the downfall of governments that refused to listen to their people. France is still taking too long to grasp this reality.

In short, Europe, beginning with France, is rapidly heading towards a new period of "Dark Ages".

Alper Tan

October 30, 2026