Jacobin Radio: Mass Protests in France and Iran

Millions people are protesting worldwide to challenge neoliberal capitalist austerity policies that add to economic insecurity, inequality, and poverty for the vast majority. In Iran, Iraq, Hong Kong, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, France, and beyond, masses of people have taken to the streets, and faced state violence in response. What are the underlying issues motivating the protests? Suzi talks first to Stathis Kouvelakis (https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/12/france-strike-welfare-state-pensions-emmanuel-macron) in France, where, since December 5, strikes and demonstrations more than a million strong have paralyzed the country. Teachers, nurses, students, and Yellow Vests have stood alongside the old vanguard of railway and transport workers to halt President Macron’s “Thatcherite” attacks on pensions and the welfare state. Suzi then turns to Iran and talks with Kevan Harris (https://nelc.ucla.edu/person/kevan-harris/) about the spectacular, illegal protest movement rocking the nation since November 15. The government has responded brutally, killing at least 200 and arresting thousands. The catalyst for the Iranian protests, as with the French Yellow Vest movement the previous year, was a hike in gas prices.The spark produced a conflagration in an already existing environment marked by economic insecurity, the breakup of the social contract, high inflation, and negative economic growth. Further ignition was provided by the week-long government shutdown of the internet. As in France, movements have converged, and pose a threat to the regime.