As the municipal elections approach, a paradox strikes the French public debate: everyone talks about the threat to culture, but no one proposes a policy to address it. Worse still, when an initiative emerges, it is almost systematically confiscated by the same ideological framework. It seems as if the right has internalized the idea that culture is not its natural terrain, that it belongs to another camp, another legitimacy. It’s time to put an end to this.
Culture is neither a luxury, nor a budget adjustment variable. It is anything but a “non-essential asset.” It is what connects individuals, generations, territories to their history and future. It is an instrument for human construction, a condition for political possibility. In a society fragmented by individualism, communitarianism, and algorithmic polarization, and with war at Europe’s doorstep, culture is one of the last spaces where national unity can still be forged.
Context: Discussing the importance of culture in politics, especially in the context of the upcoming municipal elections.
Fact Check: The article highlights the neglect of cultural policies by the right, emphasizing the need for a shift in approach to truly embrace and promote culture in society.
