Gilles Lipovetsky: "Today's youth are no longer afraid of AIDS, but of their professional future"

Gilles Lipovetsky discusses the current protests in France, highlighting a shift in collective action driven by individualism. He notes that today's youth are more concerned about their professional futures than past fears like AIDS. The philosopher emphasizes that while social media plays a role in mobilization, deeper societal issues, such as job insecurity and climate change, fuel unrest. He contrasts the current situation with past ideologies that inspired long-term commitments to collective causes. Lipovetsky argues that the absence of political hope leads to violence during protests, reflecting a lack of direction and promises for the future. He acknowledges that while France's protests are particularly intense, similar movements are occurring across Europe, driven by economic concerns.