The Breakdown and Recomposition of French Political Life

For decades, French political life was structured around two opposing blocs—the right and the left—each anchored by a major party, the Socialist Party on the left and Les Républicains on the right, alternating in power. Over the past ten years, however, this long‑standing equilibrium has been profoundly unsettled. Emmanuel Macron’s electoral victory, the rise of the National Rally, the fragmentation of the left between an increasingly radical left and a more moderate one, and the collapse of the two former ruling parties (PS and LR) have collectively contributed to a genuine disintegration of the political landscape. Analysts now speak of fragmentation, disruption, and the difficulty of governing in the absence of a stable and clearly defined majority.



This course will first examine the bipolar political configuration that characterized the Fifth Republic for several decades. We will then analyze the various factors that have driven the political breakdown of the past decade. Finally, with less than a year remaining before the 2027 presidential election, we will consider whether a reconfiguration—or even a reconstruction—of the political field is possible.