The prevailing mood in our society is one of contempt. A sad state of affairs! "Multifaceted and contradictory, the feeling of contempt transcends mere class contempt to become the emotional energy of the forces and movements that threaten democracies. For contempt, or what is perceived as such, is everywhere." Drawing on numerous examples, François Dubet, in his book *Contempt: Collective Emotion, Political Passion*, published by Seuil, emphasizes the diversity of societal situations of contempt and anger. "Politically, contempt is malleable. It can be right-wing or left-wing: everything depends on its victims, its perpetrators, and the parties that mobilize it." Anyone can suffer the contempt of others and find it difficult to recover. The wounds of contempt never heal, whether it is expressed verbally or through condescending or ignorant attitudes. Almost a caricature, "Young, educated, rich, self-assured, even arrogant, President Macron symbolizes this civilization of contempt." Let us recall Monique Pinçon-Charlot's book, *The Contemptuous One of the Republic* (Ed. Textuel, 2023). This contempt reveals itself as a chain of emotions. Beyond class contempt, those who feel scorned feel like they are watching the train go by, excluded from change. Furthermore, healthcare professionals and teachers feel despised by the system, by their administration. One only needs to listen to the pronouncements of demagogues and populists who scorn civil servants, proclaiming their desire to eliminate thousands of positions as if they were pests.
What is the alternative?
The crucial question is how to transform this energy of revolt into a democratic force to build an alternative. Let us return to class contempt, which "becomes a kind of social racism: we don't mix." "Class has become second nature." Even if this attitude is less violent than in the 19th century, it is real, and everything makes a distinction. Far from diminishing with time and interaction, "this contempt fragments and multiplies, encompassing a whole range of individual inequalities." The contemptuous person is themselves despised; are they aware of this, and do they seek to enhance their status? Is there a fear of falling from grace? What is the perception of those who have crossed social classes? More broadly, it is the very representation of the national community that is being shaken. Individuals no longer recognize themselves in a society where they are merely numbers.
Also noteworthy is François Dubet's analysis of discrimination, whether real or perceived, individual or collective. There are twenty-six recognized cases of discrimination in the regulations. These include origins, sex, place of residence (from suburbs to ghettos), and the role of religion. Demonstrations and acts of revolt erupt periodically. "Indignez-vous!" (Get angry!), to borrow Stéphane Hessel's phrase, but to what end? François Dubet develops another interesting analysis focused on populism. Like David Graeber (David Graeber, Value, Politics and Democracy in the United States, Presses Universitaires de Lyon, 2025), he notes that a significant portion of the "poor" vote is directed toward the right and the cult of personality. Trump's election is significant. "The poor vote for the right because, in their eyes, the elites are self-righteous and incapable of solving basic social problems."
What social contract?
The revival of the social contract is a political priority. The fight against inequality is its manifestation. If the established parties fail to meet expectations, can citizens create an alternative by relying on unions and associations? It is not the State that is taking over; the "Great Debate" initiated by Emmanuel Macron after the Yellow Vest movement has demonstrated its contempt. It is simply acting as a crutch to obscure social demands.
"The feeling of being invisible and despised would be lessened if it could be expressed through multiple and broader forms of democratic life, extending beyond the games of social media and news channels that always end up pitting the 'arrogance' of those who know against the contempt of 'those who are nothing.'"
* François Dubet
Contempt: Collective Emotion, Political Passion
Ed. Le Seuil, 2025
https://monde-libertaire.net/?articlen=8804
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Link: (en) France, Monde Libertaire - IDEAS AND STRUGGLES: Contempt (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]
Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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