Contemplating left-wing discussions: It's time to ponder!
Festival of Ideas Takin' Over La Charité-sur-Loire: From July 4 to 6, the Festival of Ideas is throwing down over 30 events in La Charité-sur-Loire to hash out the cultural and political challenges of tomorrow's world. Serious partnership from Liberation's got their back.
Remember that burst of political energy post-2009's Socialist Party slugfest in Reims? Martine Aubry, the new boss lady, wanted to drag her party out of their never-ending wars, right after Ségolène Royal's crackup against Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential election. So, she set up a think tank, bringing together a group of experts focusing on environmental, justice, equality issues, fostering some good old-fashioned brainstorming sessions. Christian Paul, who managed this intellectual playground, reflects, "We had some real deep talks, even shared some time with Martine Aubry. It was all about sharing ideas and challenging each other."
But this free-thinking wonderland didn't last. In 2012, the sweatshop shut down, just as François Hollande moved into the White House. Now scholars like sociologist Michel Wieviorka think this move is a symptom of a bigger problem: today's political parties aren't engaged in serious intellectual work beyond strategy and alliance-building. Wieviorka penned the essay "Can the Left Idea Still Make Sense?" (L'Aube).
With the 2027 presidential election just around the corner, the left has a bunch of debates on their minds—debates that focus more on future alliances and nomination strategies rather than solid policy platforms. Robert Vallaud, leader of the socialist deputies, put it straight: "It's high time to put our focus back on ideas. Let's produce our own guidebooks, create a vision for the future, and design a project that speaks to everyone."
Vallaud showed his stripes by introducing the concept of "demarchandization," envisioning it as the solution to the PS's quandaries. But the buzz will be about politics over policy yet again. "The socialist texts are just lists of action items, devoid of critical thought about society, capitalism, and political horizons," blasts political scientist Rémi Lefebvre in Liberation.
But don't get the wrong idea—according to Christian Paul, the left is never at a loss for ideas. It's even an "endless wellspring of innovative ideas," he says. Unfortunately, there's a lack of coordinated production of a political project. The parties have their heads down, focusing on self-preservation. "The only link they have with civil society is through think tanks that churn out non-binding reports," complains former PS presidential candidate Benoît Hamon.
The tension between parties and scholars isn't just about mistrust. Political figures may not see researchers as viable outlets for their ideas. Conversely, intellectuals may worry that their ideas will be diluted in political games. "Civil society is eager to mobilize, but they want to ensure that their ideas will lead to real change," clarifies Julia Cagé.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's team found a way around the parties by creating their own think tank, La Boétie, in 2019. The Institute claims to be a "permanent forum for dialogue" between intellectuals, universities, and the cultural world. Every week, they host events tackling topics like sea conservation, digital innovation, and fighting extremism. It's all about the struggle of ideas, state Mélenchon's insurgents.
Despite this wealth of ideas, the left struggles to assert its voice in the population's debates, while the right-wing political class faces scrutiny. The left appears as the only alternative to the National Rally, hovering close to power 1.5 years before the presidential election. "Since our adversary is crystal clear, the left has unfairly coasted by merely presenting itself as a barrier to the far right," says Julia Cagé. "Resistance is important, but it won't be enough to win," adds Yannick Jadot.
If the left is where it is today, it's because they're no longer fulfilling their historic function of illuminating the way forward with a positive and inspiring vision. Hamon, the former socialist who now heads ESS France, Based his 2017 presidential campaign on the idea of a universal basic income. A radical move that sparked conversation and even pushed other politicians to take a stand.
But this didn't stop the PS from collapsing to 6% by the end of a campaign marked by the alignment of many pink-hatters towards Macronism. Still, optimism lingers within the parties and civil society. "There are smart minds and a strong desire for change," notes Julia Cagé. So, here's a call to arms: "It's time to swim back to the surface." Let's give the left a fresh start.
- The lasting shutdown of Martine Aubry's think tank in 2012 raised concerns among scholars like Michel Wieviorka, indicating a broader issue in today's political parties, as they seem to dismiss intellectual work beyond strategic planning and alliance-building, focusing more on policy-and-legislation related matters in the realm of politics and general-news.
- In the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election, many on the left are looking for a shift in focus, with figures like Robert Vallaud urging parties to return to their roots by producing their own guidebooks, creating a vision for the future, and designing comprehensive policy platforms instead of mere strategy and alliance-building, addressing broader issues in politics, policy-and-legislation, and general-news.
