Time to turn the pyramid on its head
It is clear that the pre-election countdown currently under way in France is providing us with unique insights. First of all, the candidates for president are exceptional. The presence of Socialist candidate Segolene Royal – irrespective of her political convictions on participative democracy and family, as well as her evident passion for children – has managed to lend a certain «sexy» edge to the pre-electoral climate, which does not bode well for her. Then there is the self-confidence of Nicolas Sarkozy, a politician of unrestrained ambition, a supporter of the Anglo-Saxon labor model and of transatlantic relations, with a tough approach to immigrants. He emits a sense of rationalism and efficiency which is very appropriate in our times. Then there is Francois Bayrou, the third serious candidate, who has included in his program everything that Royal and Sarkozy rejected for fear of appearing too populist. These protagonists face a rather complex challenge which cannot be won via charming smiles and tough declarations but which requires imagination: how they tackle the generation gap. This might not be original but it has always been a pre-election issue. This time though we have the virtual juxtaposition of the baby boomers and their children. Word has it that the central committees of the main political parties have spent many evenings burning the midnight oil in discussions about how to transform the concepts of collectivism and individualism, power and autonomy, stasis and mobility into political rhetoric. They have been discussing how to blend the militancy of the older generation with the postmodern outlook of the younger, the radicalism of the baby boomers with the consumerism of their children. The former lived through difficult times but life was good to them. The latter had an easier education but life has not done them any favors. The former took permanent employment – and sexual liberation – for granted; the latter had to settle for uncertainty at work, stress over pensions, and AIDS. Postwar youth grew up in a society that was characterized by growth and a sense of hierarchy, in contrast with today’s youth whose political model is immediate, participative democracy. The former read newspapers, the latter are bloggers. So French politicians are asking themselves in which direction to cast their line – toward the nation state of their fathers or the globalized world of their children? At first, these concerns might seem excessive. But they indicate a general trend. Established political systems continue to operate on the basis of older people’s logic. The demands and concerns of the young play second fiddle. But how long can this go on? Maybe it’s time for the pyramid to be turned on its head. In any case, the forthcoming French elections are likely to expose fresh new political ideas.
