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How did a movement which began in French schools become an indictment of the French state itself? We have a look at what's behind France's largest protests in decades — and the role of widespread protest in French history and culture.
CBC News
· Posted: Oct 22, 2026 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 39 minutes ago
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LISTEN | FRONT BURNER: Front Burner30:07What's behind the youth protests in France? 
France is in the midst of a weeks-long, nationwide protest that began with high school students lamenting the conditions of their public schools and issues like overcrowding, teacher shortages, and deteriorating facilities.
But these protests quickly became a national uprising, the largest the country has seen in decades — drawing in trade unions, public sector workers, and others frustrated with the conditions of life in the country.
France is a country where street protest is part of the political culture, and for many around the world France has become a nation synonymous with uprising.
Emile Chabal is an author, historian of Europe's political history, and professor at the University of Edinburgh. He joins the show to talk about how a student protest became a national demonstration of anger at the French state, and how France came to be viewed by many as "the land of protest."
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