Uma revolução silenciosa: França, 2017-2022

Abstract

This article shows a profound change in French electoral behaviour, revealed in 2017 and confirmed in 2022. This change can be better explained by structural drivers that replaced traditional left-right cleavages by new cultural and social cleavages, also experienced in other liberal democracies. The consolidation of these new cleavages brings new opportunities to liberal centrist movements but poses serious threats to the traditional social-democratic left in its relation to the working classes. Additionally, this is a favourable political battleground for the far-right electoral growth.