Block everything: the struggle in France
The Bloquons tout movement in France has brought students, workers and activists together in blockades and strikes
Mazan, rape as a political fact
The so-called ‘Mazan rape trial’ commenced in France in early September. Aurélie-Anne Thos contextualises the events and the protests that followed.
The French far right pushed back – for now
Ian Birchall assesses the results of the second round of France’s parliamentary elections, celebrating a defeat for the far right and assessing the problems and opportunities ahead.
The Popular Front then and now – France and the elections
Ian Birchall looks back at the history of the original Popular Front and outlines what’s at stake in France’s general election.
Kanak Protests for Independence in New Caledonia
Writing from Paris, Colin Falconer explains the background to the recent uprising in Kanaky/New Caledonia, and argues that the protesters are right to resist French imperialism.
Uprising in France: the urgency of coordination from below
As the wave of revolt against pension reform in France continues, Clément Mouhot writes about the latest stage of the movement. On Thursday 13 April, France erupted again with the twelfth “journée d’action” (day of action) in the ongoing movement against President Macron’s pension reforms. All the unions, united in the so-called “intersyndicale”, put out […]
France: standing up to Macron
Following recent strikes and demonstrations in France over pension reform, Clément Mouhot writes about the causes of the most recent wave of protest in France.
A breakthrough for the French left?
The second round of France’s parliamentary elections saw the president lose his majority, a new left alliance becoming the second largest force, but also a worrying increase in far-right representation. Ian Birchall explains the background and looks at what may come next.
Prospects for the left after the French election
The results of the first round of the French presidential election make for grim reading. Ian Birchall looks at some of the lessons of the election, and the future prospects for the left.
The union of women and the Paris Commune
An account of the Women’s union of the Paris Commune, extracted from Mark Winter’s forthcoming book ‘Turbulent Women’
‘He never gave up the fight’ – remembering Alain Krivine
Alain Krivine (1941-2022) was a life long revolutionary socialist known for his activism since the May 1968 student revolt and general strike in France. Manus McGrogan, who interviewed him, recounts Krivine’s life and activism.
Review | Léo Frankel, life of a Communard
Ian Birchall reviews a new French biography of Paris Commune member Léo Frankel.
Remembering the Paris Commune
On the 150th anniversary of the instigation of the Paris Commune, rs21’s Art Group presents a video project to commemorate the world’s first working-class revolutionary government.
The Paris Commune: Order Reigns in Paris
A new translation of an article from Le Cri du peuple, the leading newspaper of the Paris Commune
The Paris Commune: the Cry of the People
Over the coming three months rs21 will use articles from the Commune’s leading newspaper, Le Cri du Peuple to draw out the history of the Paris Commune.
France’s authoritarian turn: Islamophobia and the security state
Macron has backtracked after hundreds of thousands of people protested against the Comprehensive Security Law that would ban filming police officers.
Unearthing hidden histories: an interview with Ian Birchall
An interview with socialist historian Ian Birchall. Ian’s work has has involved researching and reevaluating lesser-known revolutionaries and activists from the Global South.
Paris: A historic day against police violence and state racism
50,000 people took to the streets in Paris on Tuesday 2 June, only two days after 10,000 undocumented migrants had protested against the immigration system.
Report: strike day in Paris
Macron may believe he does not need to compromise over his pension reforms. But on the streets of Paris workers have other ideas.
Interview: The formation of the French strike movement
French collective Plateforme d’Enquêtes Militantes explain the strikes in France.
France on the march: Macron vs. the unions
The movement against Macron’s pensions reform is at the crossroads,. Public support remains high, but it will have to spread to other basic services and key industries to defeat Macron.
Motion: Solidarity with strikers in France
A show of international solidarity and concrete financial solidarity is vital at this point in the mobilisation where the strike is becoming a significant strain on strikers themselves.
‘The hateful crowd’ – the gilets jaunes movement one year on
A gilet jaune protester shares his reflections on the movement one year on.
‘Dear Sisters of the Earth’: Peterloo bicentenary
Women were a particular target of the violence at Peterloo on 16 August 1819. We publish an extract from an address by the Manchester Female Reform Society delivered shortly before the massacre.
Panthéon occupation: Fear has changed sides
On 12 July, hundreds of Gilets Noires (black vests) occupied the Panthéon building in Paris to demand an end to the persecution, deportations and exploitation of migrants.
France: nothing new under the Sun?
Despite the insurgent left potential of the Yellow Vests movement, the far-right were the winners in France’s European elections
Between Sartre and Cliff: Ian Birchall, a heterodox Marxist’s trajectory
Selim Nadi conducts a wide-ranging interview with long-standing revolutionary socialist Ian Birchall.
Safe passage now – the border is the crisis
As around a hundred migrants have crossed the Channel in recent weeks, the Government and the Border Force are trying to prevent a new route into the UK at all costs.
Yellow vests: Macron’s fuel tax was no solution to climate chaos
Why Macron’s ‘eco-tax’ on fuel was never a fair or effective way to tackle climate change