French student protests: Police impunity ‘below’ the standards of a ‘well-functioning democracy’

Erin Ogunkeye welcomes Dr. Antoine Marie, postdoctoral researcher, fellow and lecturer at Sciences Po / CEVIPOF, to explore the political psychology behind France’s student protests. Why do people witness the same events yet reach radically different conclusions about violence? Dr Marie examines how media echo chambers, partisan thinking and the politicization of empathy deepen polarization, making it easier to overlook the suffering of those perceived as political opponents. He also examines France’s increasingly offensive police doctrine, questions surrounding accountability, and the institutional incentives that may actually hinder independent investigations into police misconduct.