Rise and Fall of Political Movements
French politics regularly witnesses dramatic movement emergence and collapse:
Successful Insurgencies
Macron's En Marche! (2016-2017): - Creation to presidency: 1 year - Traditional party collapse exploitation - Digital mobilization innovation - Technocratic appeal - Media narrative mastery
Factors for Success: - Charismatic leadership - Political opportunity structure - Organizational innovation - Financial resources - Media amplification
Failed Attempts
Multiple movements failed to sustain momentum:
Génération Écologie (1990s): - Early environmental movement - Leadership conflicts - Absorption by larger parties
Various Centrist Attempts: - Organizational weakness - Electoral system penalties - Leadership rivalries - Ideological incoherence
Patterns of Rise and Fall
Common trajectories emerge:
Rise Factors: - Crisis exploitation - Outsider positioning - New issue emergence - Generational change - Communication innovation
Decline Causes: - Governmental compromise - Leadership disputes - Organizational failures - Issue co-optation - Electoral defeats