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Is France a democracy?
Hello everyone,
The APROFED association is continuing this week the link between France and democracy begun last week (see France, an imperfect democracy – APROFED )
Indeed, we had observed that over the past 15 years, it had most often been classified as an imperfect democracy rather than a full-fledged democracy.
But when did France become a democracy?
The term democracy , from the ancient Greek dêmos, “people” and krátos, “power”, designates a political regime in which power belongs to the people , France therefore became a democracy in the aftermath of the Revolution which put an end to the monarchy.
Democracy is thus opposed to various ideologies and political systems, including: Marxism-Leninism, absolute monarchy, aristocracy, fascism, the Velayat-e faqih (in its absolute form), and theocracy.
So France has been a democracy for a little over 230 years.
Nevertheless, since that date France has experienced several regimes that have either moved closer to or further away from this model and its values.
In 1792, the First Republic was born , abolishing the monarchy and introducing universal male suffrage, though this was only briefly implemented during the Reign of Terror. While this can be considered the birth of the democratic principle , it was not yet a lasting democracy.
In 1848, following another revolution, the Second Republic was born, laying the foundations of a modern democracy with the return of universal male suffrage (March 1848), which was actually implemented this time, freedom of the press, the authorization of public meetings, an elected Assembly, and so on. However, the regime ended in 1851 with the coup d’état of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. This was the first stable (albeit brief) implementation of modern representative democracy in France.
With the fall of Napoleon III, the Third Republic was born in 1875, allowing democracy to become firmly established in France. The constitutional laws of 1875 stabilized the Republic. Civil liberties were guaranteed (freedom of the press, assembly, unionization, etc.). It was the first lasting and institutionally stable democracy.
Then, after World War II, came the Fourth and Fifth Republics , where women gained the right to vote and to stand for election, and where the first truly universal elections were held . For many historians, 1945 marks the date from which France became a fully realized democracy, including all citizens, because a democracy presupposes that all adult citizens participate in political life, which was not the case before.
Yet while France dons the mantle of democracy, it cannot shed that of empire and colonial power, going so far as to put 1 to 2 million individuals from its colonies to the sword, described by some as crimes against humanity, all in order to preserve its economic interests and maintain its international prestige.
We have therefore asked the AI again with the following questions, the answers to which can be found in the document below:
– How many deaths were caused by the French decolonization wars?
– Why has France never been able to decolonize peacefully?
– Has France committed crimes against humanity?
– Can France be called the homeland of human rights given the crimes against humanity committed during decolonization?
– What war crimes and crimes against humanity were recorded by France during decolonization?
– Has France ever rigged elections during decolonization to maintain control over a territory?
– Has France ever rigged electoral lists in order to obtain a vote in its favor ?
– Did France have migration policies in its colonies aimed at making the indigenous populations a minority?
– Did France have a migration policy in New Caledonia aimed at making the Kanaks a minority?
– Did France attempt to provoke the partition of Vanuatu at the time of its independence?
– Why, after each decolonization and independence of its former colonies, did France retain parts of its territories?
As the AI answers one of these questions, France often claims to be the homeland of human rights , particularly because of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, which has influenced many constitutions and international declarations. However, this claim is contested, especially in light of its colonial past and the crimes committed during decolonization .
During the colonial period, and particularly during the wars of independence (such as in Algeria, Madagascar, and Indochina), France was responsible for numerous atrocities : torture, massacres of civilians, violent repression, forced displacement, etc. Some historians and legal experts consider these acts to constitute crimes against humanity , even though their official recognition remains a subject of political debate.
Therefore, describing France as the homeland of human rights may seem paradoxical , as it obscures entire periods of its history marked by massive violations of those same rights. This illustrates a double standard : on the one hand, an attachment to the universal principles of human rights; on the other, a historical reality marked by contradictions and violence, particularly within the colonial context.
The debate remains open: for some, this expression reflects an ideal to be achieved rather than an absolute historical reality; for others, it masks hypocrisies and a refusal to fully assume the responsibilities of the past , thus respecting to the letter the expression taken from the Gospel according to Matthew, namely: Do as I say, not as I do.
If the President of the Republic declared in 2021 that “France would be less beautiful without New Caledonia” (see https://www.franceinfo.fr/politique/referendum-en-nouvelle-caledonie/referendum-sur-l-independance-pourquoi-emmanuel-macron-assure-que-la-france-serait-moins-belle-sans-la-nouvelle-caledonie_4855119.html ), the practices of the latter described in this document attached to this article, during decolonization, demonstrate that it is no longer very beautiful and has been for a long time, to such an extent that the French believe that their number 1 problem is neither purchasing power nor insecurity but politicians (see The number 1 problem of the French is not purchasing power or insecurity: it is politicians ).
Wishing you a pleasant read and reminding you that federalism is the only solution to reconcile unity in diversity.
The APROFED association