Expert on protests in France: Civilizations fade when society loses a vision of the future

ArmInfo. What's happening in France is being characterized as a "crisis of hope," the causes of which are multifaceted: from economic problems to a crisis of youth expectations for the future. This was written on Facebook by orientalist and Arabist Gor Gevorgyan, responding to the mass protests and unrest taking place in France.

"Between 1914 and 1922, the German philosopher Oswald Spengler wrote his famous work, The Decline of the West." "Spengler viewed the aging of civilizations as a natural consequence of historical development, during which society gradually loses its inner purpose, self-confidence, and the ability to create a shared, great future," Gevorgyan noted.

In this regard, he asked rhetorically whether it is appropriate today to speak of a "Spenglerian decline" in France. "Without making predictions or being overly pessimistic, let us simply note that civilizations do not collapse or disappear overnight. The crisis begins much earlier," the orientalist and Arabist noted.

"At the moment when society gradually loses its understanding of the meaning of its own existence and ceases to imagine its future," the orientalist and Arabist noted.

At the same time, he noted, for official Paris, and not only for it, the main question is much deeper and more complex. "The question is, will France be able to offer its society a qualitatively new vision of the future by rethinking and transforming its own social and political realities? In the near future, it will become clear whether this is all a temporary situation or a process with far-reaching consequences," the expert concluded.

It should be noted that mass protests began in France on October 17. They were sparked by discontent over the rising cost of living, high energy prices, government spending cuts, and a crisis in the education system. However, in recent days, peaceful protests have escalated into mass unrest. Protesters are looting luxury stores, burning government buildings, and robbing passersby on the street. French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement on October 18 promising to bring to justice all those responsible for the street violence.