French Democracy in Distress: Challenges and Opportunities in French Politics

Authoritarian populism is challenging contemporary democracies, raising concerns about their resilience. Using France as a magnifying lens, we show that while the gap between political elites and ordinary citizens is widening, the French remain strongly committed to democratic values, calling for greater participation and responsiveness of institutions. French democracy is on a razor’s edge, with mounting citizen frustrations and awaited reforms.

Élodie Druez is F.R.S.-FNRS Research Fellow at the GERME, Free University of Brussels, Belgium, and Associate Researcher at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics of Sciences Po (CEE), Fance.

Frédéric Gonthier is Full Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Grenoble, University of Grenoble-Alpes, Pacte CNRS, France. He is Principal Investigator of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and the European Values Study (EVS) in France.

Camille Kelbel is Scientific Advisor at the Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS); former Associate Professor at ESPOL, Catholic University of Lille, France.

Nonna Mayer is CNRS Research Director Emerita at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics of Sciences Po (CEE), France.

Felix-Christopher von Nostitz is Associate Professor in Political Science, ESPOL-LAB, Catholic University of Lille, France.

Vincent Tiberj is Full Professor of Political Science at Sciences Po Bordeaux, Centre Emile Durkheim (CED), France.