Andrew Smith warns that policing, political blame are no substitute for social reform & public trust

“You can't police yourself into social cohesion. You can't police yourself into a political future,” explains Andrew Smith, historian of modern France at Queen Mary University of London. He identifies a central paradox confronting the French Republic: the state may possess the means to impose public order, yet lack the political capacity to address the demands and grievances driving mass mobilisation. Smith examines the tensions between social protest, presidential authority and democratic legitimacy amid renewed unrest in France: “500,000 people on the streets of France doesn't happen by chance.” #France #Protests #Students 🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen 🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN 🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/ Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen Follow us on X: https://f24.my/Xen Bluesky: https://f24.my/BSen and Threads: https://f24.my/THen Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen

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