Now, the People!: Revolution in the Twenty-First Century

A major investigation of the possibility of a new type of revolution in our epoch by the leader of the French radical left

In summer 2024, France stood on the brink of a far-right takeover. But the disaster was avoided thanks to a New Popular Front of parties headed by long-standing left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. It won the most seats in the snap parliamentary elections, running on a radical, progressive, inclusive agenda, in large part inspired by Mélenchon’s presidential programme. Now, the People! details his vision of revolution in our time.

In this book, Mélenchon embarks on a survey of human history from its earliest moments to the crisis-ridden present. He outlines his vision for a new strategy for radical parties to reach the highest levels of government and peacefully transform the capitalist system: a citizens’ revolution.

In this revolution, individuals come together to form a single, politically mobilised people. They assert their power over the collective conditions of urbanised life, against the oligarchy that still controls them.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon was for many years a leading member of the French Socialist Party. He broke with the Socialists in 2008 and founded the movement that is now La France Insoumise (France Unbowed). He stood in the presidential elections of 2012, 2017, and 2022, and in the latter came close to advancing into the run-off. He is the author of more than twenty books.