At
my conference, this afternoon, I was asked about the Gilets Jaunes, the French
demonstrators that took to the streets every Saturday for a long while,
starting in November last year. I replied the protest is dead. And I explained
that the Gilets Jaunes missed some important criteria that make the citizens’ movements
successful. Therefore, they could only fail, it was just a question of time.
One,
their objectives were too broad. In addition, besides being too many and shooting
in too many directions, the demands kept changing with time. That is a serious
mistake.
Two,
they were not able to connect with other movements, not even with the trade
unions, not to mention the political parties. No connection beyond the group
means no alliance and therefore, no success.
Three,
they were not aware that to win you should not demonize those who are not
participating. You must show you are open to them. If you call them names, they
will turn against you.
Four,
to be successful, a citizens’ movement must remain non-violent. That is what
history teaches us. Acts of violence associated with the movement play against
it. The government knew that and was able to play that card well. Just think of
the many TV images that were broadcast to show how much violence was associated
with the Gilets Jaunes’ rallies.
Five,
civic action calls for visible leaders to be the recognisable face of it. That
was not the case. Every time a new potential leader emerged, he or she was
immediately attacked by many within the Gilets Jaunes crowd.
Six,
the government must propose an alternative to the demonstrations. The Macron government
invented a “national dialogue”. It took the steam out of many participants and
sympathisers in the Gilets Jaunes.
That
is my reading, that is what I shared today.
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