France in Times of Crisis: Social, Economic, and Institutional Strains

This talk was delivered as a lecture organized by the Alliance Française of Stockholm on October 8 and examines the multiple and intertwined crises currently affecting France. Drawing on empirical data from the World Values Survey and recent economic indicators published by INSEE, the presentation explores the widespread perception of a permanent crisis in French society and places it in a comparative European perspective.The analysis focuses on three main dimensions. First, it addresses the erosion of citizens’ trust in political parties, representative institutions, the government, and the media, highlighting a structural crisis of political legitimacy. Second, it examines France’s economic situation, characterized by high public debt, sluggish reindustrialization, persistent social inequalities, and growing territorial divides, while emphasizing that the situation, though worrying, is not catastrophic. Finally, the talk analyzes the institutional challenges faced by the Fifth Republic, including political fragmentation, executive instability, and the increasing role of social mobilizations as an alternative form of political expression.Overall, the presentation argues that France is experiencing less an acute economic collapse than a deep social, territorial, and political crisis, in which the difficulty of forging compromises—particularly around fiscal and budgetary choices—has become central. The conference aimed to provide an accessible yet rigorous framework for understanding these dynamics for a broad audience interested in contemporary French politics and society.