The power and unpredictability of France's student protests

Europe Edition - Today's top story: Why the student protests in France and the government’s response are unprecedented and unpredictable October 8, 2026 Europe Edition   World Teachers’ Day on October 5 coincided with ongoing, unprecedented student-led demonstrations across France over poor conditions in high schools and teacher shortages: 2,600 teaching vacancies are yet to be filled for lack of willing candidates. The situation is particularly alarming for a society that attaches great importance to qualifications for securing a career. Widespread youth revolts are nothing new in France. The difference with this latest nationwide movement, which comes six months before a presidential election, is that classic protest tactics such as blockading schools sit alongside blazes, mortar-style fireworks and a muscular police response that has left hundreds injured, some very severely. It’s hard to tell where this powerful student uprising will lead, despite the government’s rather late olive branch to begin negotiations with high school communities via an online platform. As France debates investment in education, Spain’s housing crisis will be the focus of its snap election in November. The move has its advantages for incumbent PM Pedro Sánchez, who will be angling for electoral gain from voters’ discontent and protest action calling for access to affordable housing and protection for tenants. Finally, research into the fallout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict reveals harm inflicted on deported Ukrainian children in Russia that will outlast any foreseeable ceasefire. Militarisation and re-education are part of Russia’s repressive program to stamp out Ukrainian identity.   Carly Lock Editor, Paris   Why the student protests in France and the government’s response are unprecedented and unpredictable Robi Morder, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) – Université Paris-Saclay Student outcry against the limited means of France’s education system is nothing new, but the global context and the nature of the movement which began in the suburbs are, and so is the government’s initial, confrontational reaction.   Russia is using Ukraine’s children to win its occupation – and the wider war Vladyslav Havrylov, King's College London Russia’s strategy is twofold, to secure compliance from parents in occupied areas and erase Ukrainian identity. Spain’s snap election: will Pedro Sánchez’s latest gamble pay off? Asbel Bohigues, Universitat de València Sánchez is building on the momentum of recent protests to mobilise voters around the housing crisis. A camera combined with AI could help further diagnosis of movement disorders like spinal muscular atrophy in newborns Imen Trabelsi, École pratique des hautes études (EPHE); François Jouen, École pratique des hautes études (EPHE); Jean Bergounioux, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ) – Université Paris-Saclay Detecting impaired motor function in infants using AI-driven motion capture is producing promising results. A French research team introduces the new screening tool for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). October 7: a Palestinian-Israeli memoir seeks to break the cycle of violence Ibrahim Al-Marashi, IE University; California State University San Marcos The Future is Peace, by Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah, offers a rare example of “resolution media”.   As Baltic states face Russian hybrid aggression, our research shows what Europe can do Alex Hardy, University of Liverpool Hybrid warfare, including cyberattacks, poses a big threat, not only to Russia’s neighbours, but to the whole of Europe. What Europe’s EU Inc. framework for boosting competitiveness can and should learn from startup fraud in the US Nevena Radoynovska, EM Lyon Business School; Tim Weiss, Imperial College London Researchers look at how the EU’s proposed framework to harmonise and boost business registration across member states can avoid the pitfalls of startup fraud.   One in three Ukrainian civilians estimated to meet the criteria for PTSD or complex PTSD – new study Gwendolyn Sasse, Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS); University of Oxford; Deirdre MacManus, King's College London War-related trauma now affects most people in Ukraine and presents a major threat to the country’s resiliance in the face of continuing Russian aggression. Marie Antoinette at 20: Sofia Coppola’s playfully postmodern period drama is finally getting the praise it deserves Fiona Handyside, University of Exeter Marie Antoinette was released into a cultural moment dominated by consumerism as empowerment, when ‘girl power’ was used to sell music and fashion to young women. The UK and Denmark: a dentist assesses the state of the nations’ teeth Vikram Niranjan, University of Limerick England and Denmark are both wealthy, welfare-minded nations – so why is one catching dental problems early, and the other catching up? How Spain’s torrential rainstorms put sewage into its rivers and seas Elisenda Ballesté, Universitat de Barcelona Overloaded wastewater treatment plants often discharge untreated sewage into waterways.     You’re receiving this newsletter from The Conversation The Conversation France (assoc. 1901) 14, rue Sainte-Cécile 75009 Paris