Protests, riots and the paradox of tolerance

On Sept. 21, a teacher shortage at a high school on the outskirts of Paris sparked student protests meant to express long-standing frustration over a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and outdated facilities. The protests gained further traction through social media and resonated with a wider audience. The French government’s heavy-handed response only intensified the conflict, while mutual accusations between politicians added fuel to the fire. Civic groups and other organizations joined the movement, and the protests spread nationwide.

However, some demonstrations turned into violent riots, with fires being set and causing collateral damage to innocent people and property. Among the losses was the 19th-century town hall in Limoges, whose clock tower, spire and roof collapsed in flames at the hands of masked protesters. In an interview with Reuters, one Limoges resident lamented, “It broke my heart. I saw Notre-Dame all over again, except this time it was our town.” Inspired by this example, students and other members of the public took to the streets in Milan, Italy, and other cities across Europe under the slogan, “Let’s do it like in France.”

In June 2023, Nahel Merzouk — a French 17-year-old of Algerian descent — was shot and killed after refusing to comply with a police traffic stop, sparking protests across France over the use of excessive force by law enforcement. Merzouk’s mother initially organized a peaceful protest in the place where her son died, but demonstrations in several cities soon spiraled out of control, resulting in arson and looting. Merzouk’s grandmother soon called for an end to the violence, accusing rioters of using his death as a pretext for damaging property and causing disorder.

In July, I visited several parts of France and spoke with police officers. One thing I observed is the way the media sometimes sensationalized — or even misrepresented — events. For example, videos that circulated online purportedly showing the Alcazar Library in Marseille being burned down were actually depicting a fire at the Central Post Office in Manila that had occurred months earlier. It is true that the library’s windows and doors had been the targets of Molotov cocktails, but the fires were quickly extinguished before they could spread inside the building.

Today, social media algorithms act as filters, creating echo chambers that reinforce pre-existing views. Generative artificial intelligence can conjure up almost any sensational scenario. Dramatic scenes — such as clashes between police and protesters or fires consuming buildings — are highly attention-grabbing. They might even draw more people into the fray, blurring the lines between peaceful protesters, opportunistic rioters and radical groups.

In poor countries, people struggle to meet even their most basic needs. In authoritarian states, public demonstrations often face severe repression. How should those of us living in a free and prosperous society view the unrest in France?

Austrian-British philosopher Karl Popper argued that the driving force of progress lies in identifying and correcting errors. When applied to society, this means that allowing for criticism and dissent offers a more effective way to address problems. Popper’s concept of the “open society” posed a serious challenge to totalitarianism. Yet, he also took an objective view of the global landscape and proposed the “paradox of tolerance” — the idea that tolerance without limit would ultimately lead to the extinction of tolerance itself. Therefore, we must defend a tolerant society against attacks by the intolerant. This is a lesson we should all take to heart.