Counter-democracy as an expression of political distrust (based on the example of civic protests in France during the presidency of Emmanuel Macron)

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to introduce the concept of counter-democracy as defined by Pierre Rosanvallon, one of the most important historians and scholars of democracy of the past and present century. The article also examines the protests and public demonstrations that marked both presidential terms of Emmanuel Macron and undoubtedly influenced changes in the political system by increasing civic engagement as a result of political distrust in the democratic dimension. The following research questions were posed: What is counterdemocracy as defined by Pierre Rosanvallon? In what ways is it present in French society? What is political distrust in the democratic dimension? How does it affect the political system? On the basis of the questions posed, the main hypothesis is constructed, which is that the protests that happened during the presidency of Emmanuel Macron in France significantly affected the change in the political system through greater involvement of citizens in the political process. Complementing this hypothesis will be the sub-hypotheses:
1. Citizens’ behavior fits the model of counter-democracy in Pierre Rosanvallon’s terms.
2. Citizens’ behavior is an expression of political distrust in the democratic dimension.
Source-based reconstruction methods will be used for this purpose.