On Thursday, September 12th, Professor Harsin, Thomas A. Bartlett Chair and Professor of History, gave a talk, "The Yellow Vest Movement in France: Populism, Violence and Media," as part of the Division of Social Sciences Luncheon Seminar Series.
In her talk, Professor Harsin examined the origins and implication of the Gilets Jaunes (yellow vest) movement in France. The movement began following an online petition that garnered close to a million signatures, and was followed by mass protests starting in November 2018. Motivated by a number of factors including rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and the repeal of the ISF wealth tax, the movement has gained considerable support among the working class. It was also noted that conditions building over the past 40 years, such as the consolidation of rural resources, the disappearance of reliable big industry jobs, and the housing crisis have led to general feelings of discontent with the government.
In her presentation, Professor Harsin looked at how this movement compares to other notable protests in the history of the Fifth Republic in France, and how it has been shaped by its relationship with the media. Though social media has played a huge role in its formation, organization, and even criticism, the yellow vest movement has been given surprisingly little coverage by the global mainstream news media.
Professor Harsin also explored how the protests and the resulting police violence have both paradoxically acted as catalysts and inhibitors of the movement’s progress. Overall, the lecture provided the ԱƵ community with a truly enlightening view of the current situation in France.