France’s history of riots and looting

Riots and looting are not exclusive to France, as similar phenomena have occurred globally, such as in England in March 1990 during the Poll tax protests and in the United States after the death of George Floyd in 2020. However, France has a unique historical mythology surrounding its social movements, particularly linked to the Revolution of 1789.

Looting during the French Revolution

In the days preceding the storming of the Bastille, part of the population destroyed toll barriers and seized food products from shops, with looting beginning on 12 July 1789. This pattern was not limited to Paris but was observed in other cities as well, leading to the "Great Fear" of summer 1789 across the French territory.

Looting and revolution in the 19th century

Throughout the 19th century, insurrections and revolutions often included looting, though revolutionaries sometimes regarded looters with suspicion, fearing they could undermine the revolution's image. For example, after the proclamation of the Republic in 1848, there were condemnations against looters.

Literary depictions of uprisings

These uprisings, accompanied or not by looting, have been immortalized in literary works such as Victor Hugo's Les Misérables and Émile Zola's Germinal. Revolutionary myths continue to persist, as seen in the actions of Louise Michel, who led a demonstration in 1883 marked by the looting of bakeries.

Looting in the early 20th century

Similar incidents occurred in various French cities in the early 20th century, such as in Limoges in 1905, where porcelain workers went on strike and some were accused of looting an armory. The post-First World War period also saw riots and looting, with the French Communist Party theorizing insurrection.

Literary glorification of rebellion

Literary works from this period, such as Bruno Jasienski's Je brûle Paris d'abord, Aragon's Persécuté persécuteur, and Paul Nizan's Le Cheval de Troie and La Conspiration, exalted riot and looting as a means to destroy symbols of capitalism.

Non-violent strikes and union roles

Counter-examples include the strikes of May 1936, where no major incidents were recorded, and the strikes of May-June 1968, which were largely non-violent, except for some incidents in the Lyonnais region and the burning of the Stock Exchange on 24 May 1968. Trade unions have historically aimed to prevent looting and manage demonstrations, but their weakening raises questions about their ability to organize non-violent protests.

Reconnecting with revolutionary myths

When a government becomes deaf to demands, the discontented may reconnect with a national tradition that exalts rebellion. This historical pattern continues to influence how social unrest is perceived and expressed in France today.