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Dave Keating
@davekeating.substack.com

I'm travelling by train across France today, thinking about the dramatic and unsettling developments here over the past week. What to make of the youth protests that have broken out across Europe? Why are they happening now? And what kind of backlash could they provoke?

davekeating.substack.comIs Europe about to have an 1848 moment?It is rare for European countries to be experiencing simultaneous protest movements. And while the reasons for youth protests vary nationally, they are linked by shared anger, distrust and despair.
Gavin Chait;
@gavin.whyqd.com

Possibly you're looking too far back? What I'm seeing in France is familiar from South Africa. People, youth esp., experience socio-economic atrophy. They see politicians, the politicly-connected & rich having a great time, but can't change their circumstances, no matter how hard they work.

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Gavin Chait;
@gavin.whyqd.com

In France, at least, youngsters still believe an education can change their lives. Which is deeply moving. In ZA, kids no longer believe that & set fire to their schools in despair.

Gavin Chait;
@gavin.whyqd.com

Two events from Marseille this year: Galeries Lafayette closure, & Swatch + AP collab, resulted in queues & fights, not from shoppers but speculators hoping to flip what they bought at enormous profit. I expect LeBonCoin, eBay, Vinted, etc to be overwhelmed by looters hoping to flip their takings.

Gavin Chait;
@gavin.whyqd.com

This is about people who no longer have faith that hard work, effort, or personal development will result in meaningful change in their lives. And people in that state are easily biddable. By criminal gangs, by the far right, by opportunistic scammers of all types.

Gavin Chait;
@gavin.whyqd.com

This is not unique to France. It is endemic in the "West" where too many have forgotten change is possible: climate change, economic development, scientific advancement. We are now all nihilists, & the consequence is protest & destruction. As MLK said, "A riot is the language of the unheard."