LA PAROLE DE L'ETAT: A PROPOS DE LA CRISE SOCIALE

In: Politique et sociétés, Volume 30, Issue 15, p. 53-90

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE ANALYSES THE FRENCH SOCIAL MOVEMENT WHICH OPPOSED JUPPE'S SOCIAL SECURITY AND NATIONAL RAILWAY REFORMS DURING THE LAST MONTH OF 1995. THIS ESSAY SUGGESTS THAT THIS CRISIS ORIGINATED IN THE CONVERGENCE OF THREE BREACHES OF GOVERNMENT PROMISES WHICH DESPITE HAVING OCCURRED AT DIFFERENT TIMES WERE HIGHLIGHTED BY JUPPE'S REFORMS: FIRST ARE THE PRESIDENT'S ELECTORAL PROMISES, STILL FRESH IN THE MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE, WHICH CONTRADICTED THE REFORMS; SECOND WERE THE COMMITMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC PENSION LIABILITIES WHICH WERE UNILATERALLY DENOUNCED WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION; AND THIRD WERE THE SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCES THAT THE AUSTERITY MEASURES UNDERTAKEN SINCE 1983, BASED ON THE STRATEGY OF COMPETITIVE INFLATION, WOULD RESULT IN PROSPERITY FOR WAGE-EARNERS.