Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: France
Delegate Name: Colin Zaremski
Country: France
Committee: SpecPol
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
Delegate: Colin Zaremski
School: Williamston High School
The history of authoritarianism has been one marked with pain and bloodshed. This is a movement that has brought the world’s greatest conflicts. Countries have been ruined and economies destroyed. The one political movement that has been able to fight off the threat of authoritarianism has been democracy. Historically, countries, especially the West, have pushed democracy and its benefits. This has led to the improvement of these countries and has led to the expansion of rights within these countries. This has also improved the nations that have adopted democracy. But recently, issues of authoritarianism sprouting up in these nations have been concerning. History tells us the horrors of authoritarianism and the importance to push back against the rise of authoritarianism.
In today’s world, France has been dealing with authoritarian and extremist views pop up in the country. France historically has been an authoritarian government, specifically under the French crown. But under the French Revolution, France switched to a republic. The republic was a little bumpy at first with having Napoleon as a dictator, then back to a monarchy, then back to a republic; but France eventually fell back into a democratic republic which France has stayed for the majority of its history since. During World War 2, France fell to authoritarianism again after being defeated by Germany. After a successful Allied invasion of France, France was able to switch back to a democracy which France has championed for since. France has pushed for the establishment of democracy in war torn areas and in former colonies. This push has helped bring more rights and freedoms to these regions of the world. France has also been dealing with the rise of authoritarianism within its borders. France has countered this rise by restricting people’s abilities to share these kinds of extremist views.
France in the future plans to continue restricting views and calls for authoritarianism. France has planned to expand these restrictions by using the police to enforce the restriction of these opinions. France also has plans to expand support for countries pursuing democracy. This plan includes providing financial aid to countries who are making the flip to democracy. As well France plans to help combat authoritarian sentiment from rising in these developing countries, making the flip to democracy by giving police training to these nations. France encourages nations who find themselves aligning with the West and their values to join France in their cause and supporting the expansion of democracy and eradication of authoritarianism.
Works Cited
Engelsman, Alexander. “France Has Dipped Two Toes Into Authoritarianism – Will It Dive In?” Democratic Erosion Consortium, 12 March 2021, https://democratic-erosion.org/2021/03/12/france-has-dipped-two-toes-into-authoritarianism-will-it-dive-in/.
“French Gendarmerie training course for the Suriname Police Force’s Arrest Team (Paramaribo, from 5 to 16 May 2025).” Ambassade de France au Suriname, 20 May 2025, https://sr.ambafrance.org/French-Gendarmerie-training-course-for-the-Suriname-Police-Force-s-Arrest-Team.
Hassan, Tirana. “World Report 2025: France.” Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/france.
