Gilets Jaunes and the Global Compact on Migration: “F__k you I won’t do what you tell me!”
Observing reactions to both the Gilets Jaunes and the Global Compact on Migration I feel some growing excitement.
A bit nervous as things could go sour but also the feeling that new doors are opening. But which ones? If I can dare a comparison: feels like entering teenage time…
Gilets Jaunes — “that’s not fair!”
The ‘Gilets Jaunes’ movement in France has been met with popular support so far. It would be wrong to see it only as a reactionary movement trying to preserve its interest even if it means no climate action. It is so big and strong because it feeds on a deep sense of injustice: it is always the same people who have to make an effort while the better-off are benefitting again from tax reduction. A teenage rebellion of some sort.
Global Compact on Migration — “don’t tell me what is good for me!”
Same for the Global Compact on Migration — working closely on the issue I can safely say that it is rather harmless. It merely promotes cooperation around existing areas of work with the understanding that without cooperation you can’t manage migration. Especially if you want to stop irregular one…
But that’s not the point why contestation grew beyond the migration sceptic circles on the right. Again, teenage rebellion — maybe it makes sense but why impose something on us that has been cooked in the confined rooms of diplomatic circles?! Aren’t we big enough to have a say…
“F__k you I won’t do what you tell me!” goes the song (well known by people from my generation at least…)
It’s been a while I wanted to put something here on what seems to me a fundamental feature of our current political system (and beyond): that it is highly paternalistic. Well, it’s not a discovery — you find that in many studies, from anthropology to gender studies.
Basically, we are treated like kids by politicians. We are infantilised by a political system where we elect people who know better to tell us how we should live together.
As if politics is too important to let the people in charge.
The current system does not trust us and it is perfectly assumed posture.
For instance, it is at the heart of the founding father’s reflection in the American Constitution. 220 years ago, it was felt that people where not educated enough to make the right choices. The decision to use elections rather than sortition as a key feature of representative democracy reflects this intention.
This mentality has continued so far and has infiltrated our own perception. In my bubble for instance, we don’t trust the people. We think we know better or that it would be too dangerous to trust you… And this is not only in my bubble, that’s across the spectrum.
This is the mentality that we grew up with: just go and vote once in a while and in the meantime the adults (politicians) will deal with the grown-up issues (pension, health and education systems, foreign politics, to name a few).
Adults impose rules that the kids don’t understand and are patronised when they asked: “it’s too complicated for you… you can go and play” — work and consume that is. And “everything is for the best in the best of worlds”.
What’s interesting is to see how as a society we seem to be growing tired of it. And for me that is the essential point here: Are we ready to kill the father (in a Freudian way…)?
Some of the popular contestation movements like the ‘Gilets Jaunes’ are saying “YEA, we want to decide on what concern us — directly”. Some of the shifts towards more autocratic leadership is saying “NAY, please treat us even more like kids and tell us who and what we should be.”
You see my point: like a teenage rebellion it could go either way.
What I hope is that we are maturing as a society to see that representation is no longer part of the solution. That at some point we must assume the responsibility collectively and no longer refer to the adults in the room. That’s for instance what Democratie Ouverte is proposing to do here with a constitutional reform that would give space to participation.
Initiatives like that one are much welcome although as of yet they still lack visibility and popular support to make them a game changer. But there must be ways to help all of us to come and realise that it is up to us in which political system we want to live…
In brief: Hi there, it’s time to trust each other and move on to become adults. Let’s try to make this teenage rebellion a blossom!
Tempted to join?
