May ’68: France’s modern revolution & political theatrics
Fifty years ago in May '68, angry students and workers brought France to a standstill in a bout of civil unrest that had a whiff of revolution and which reverberates…Continue Reading →
French rail strike is reformist Macron’s litmus test
French rail workers have launched a strike that is stirring memories of past social and political convulsions and which is…
Corsica: A restless outlier in France’s grasp
The Mediterranean island of Corsica has seen rulers come and go through the centuries. Part of France for 250 years,…
Decoder Spotlight: SYA France stands out
School Year Abroad France students have submitted more articles to News-Decoder this year than any other program. Their engagement has won them our monthly Spotlight award.Continue Reading →
Do French descendants of slaves deserve reparations?
Colonialists exploited slaves on the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique for two centuries. Should France pay reparations to their…
Pragmatic France swallows hard, forges ties with U.S.
France is looking past gaping political differences with Donald Trump to carve out a special relationship based on solid military…
What do U.S. sanctions mean for Russia and the West?
New U.S. sanctions on Russia might look like just another diplomatic move following Russia's annexation of Crimea. But they could have dire consequences.Continue Reading →
To veil or not to veil? A dilemma for Muslims in France, US
France takes a stricter stance towards the Islamic veil than the U.S. Yet despite legal protections, Muslim women still face…
Can Emmanuel Macron restore France’s grandeur?
President Emmanuel Macron wants to restore France's grandeur. But will the symbolic gestures of his first two months in power…
Politics today: Finding hope in troubled times
How could France elect a centrist president and shun populism after Brexit and Trump? Circumstances were unique, but youth must not abandon political hope.Continue Reading →