AQUILA
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t is evident that there is a huge societal divide within Paris. The issues with ‘les gilets jaunes’ at the moment highlight the problems the French Government are failing to address, for example, the impact of the police violence towards protestors. This has previously been highlighted by films such as ‘La Haine’, produced by Mathieu Kassovitz, which focuses on the split between those who live in the suburbs and those who live in the centre of Paris. ‘La Haine’ clearly display the boundary that exists between the people of Paris. The young people without work or a good education are seen as, and feel like, outsiders and many of them, being from North Africa, are even further marginalised.
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The structure of the roads and buildings seem to amplify the issue of integration of immigrants in Paris. The ‘Périphérique’ runs around the outside Paris and it is clear that, once you have crossed this boundary, the socio-economic situation is very different between the centre and suburbs. A journalist for the Guardian supports this through saying “Paris’ boundaries are defined by its fortifications”. The ‘Périphérique’ underlines the divide between the poor and marginalised outer suburbs and the overwhelmingly white, privileged, centre; adding a
“SOCIO-ECONOMIC BOUNDARIES HAVE EXISTED WITHIN PARIS FOR MANY YEARS HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN EXEMPLIFIED BY THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND TERRITORIAL ISSUES THAT HAVE AFFECTED THE SOCIETY.”
physical dimension to municipal borders and separating ‘les banlieusards’ from the rest of Paris. Many would argue the ‘Périphérique’ serves not only as a transit corridor but that it also serves as a physical border. It, arguably, increases the division between those who live in the centre of the French capital and those who live on the periphery, in the suburbs. Contrary to the idea of the ‘Périphérique’ being the main social boundary, some would argue “the main divide between Parisiens and banlieusards, remains a psychological one. While redesigning and reinventing the ‘Périphérique’ is certainly part of the solution, it is Parisians’ perceptions that must change if the ghosts of Paris’ historic fortifications are to be eradicated for good.” Socio-economic boundaries have existed within Paris for many years however, they have been exemplified by the geographical and territorial issues that have affected the society. The imbalance of power between the disadvantaged and the elite in France is becoming more and more prominent. It has been said that the border between Paris and the suburbs is an invisible wall, showing the difficulty of tackling the ever-growing issues of social exclusion and marginalisation of those living outside the centre of Paris. The many arrondissements existing in the French capital also exaggerate the borders and boundaries. Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in 2016 that she wanted to shift the boundaries of Paris’s arrondissements however, it is clear that there is still much social exclusion that impacts the French people. The suburbs of not only France, but also Belgium,
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have been infamous for nurturing terrorists that were responsible for the Brussels bombings, the Charlie Hebdo shooting and the Paris attacks of November 2015. The boundaries of social inclusion have caused many social issues. The alienation of ‘les banlieusards’ has led to social closure within the suburbs; young people are becoming more and more rebellious against the upper class and the government, leading to even more friction and stronger marginalisation of the disadvantaged. The political and social boundaries within Paris are clear and growing. The many weeks of protests of ‘les gilets jaunes’ have highlighted these issues. The boundaries between the privileged and the disadvantaged that are so obvious in Paris have been reflected in the protests of the les gilets jaunes and this has spread across the country. And whilst the causes for this dissatisfaction may be different, the sentiments are the same: a sense of anger, frustration and disenfranchisement. The gap between the political class and those who feel powerless was spelled out in stark relief when Macron attempted to reach out to the demonstrators through a speech that was broadcasted on national television, sat behind a gold-leaf desk, the most valuable piece of furniture in the Élysée Palace. Unless the French elite understand how they are perceived by the marginalised, and recognise the psychological gap between them, and, more importantly, take steps to alter that perception, the social boundaries will be as permanent as the physical ones such as the ‘Périphérique’.
