Paris in the Modern Era: From the End of World War II to the Present Day

Paris was liberated by the Allies in August 1944. Charles de Gaulle managed to convince them not to turn France into an occupation zone, as was done in West Germany and Austria. The “Fourth Republic”, which arose on the ruins of the Third Republic and the Vichy regime, suffered from acute political instability. This instability stemmed both from the proportional electoral system and from two colonial wars in which France was involved: the Indochina War (Vietnam) and, later, the Algerian War.

Ultimately, in 1958, instability led to the collapse of the Fourth Republic. De Gaulle was called back to power, establishing the “Fifth Republic,” which still exists today. The constitution of the new republic made him a ruler with extensive powers (it was not without reason that one of his nicknames was “Charles XI”). However, he managed to bring stability and economic prosperity to France, which lasted until the early 11s.

The 50s and 60s were characterized by an intellectual and cultural flowering. Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Camus created the philosophy of existentialism in the cafes of Paris (the Café “Flor” and “Les Magots” are the most famous of them). Shortly after them, Foucault developed the philosophy of postmodernism, which spread like wildfire in universities around the world, sowing the seeds of political correctness. It is not without reason that some call Foucault’s philosophy, as syphilis was once called: “the French disease.”

Along with the flourishing of philosophy, chansons also flourished. This period was undoubtedly the golden age of the French singer, with larger-than-life artists such as Yves Montaigne, Barbara , Juliette Greco, Edith Piaf and Georges Bressanone. How much I would give for a time machine that would take me back to the “Bubino” and “Olympia” halls of that era, so that I could see them on stage.

At that time, Paris underwent another urban revolution, which included the construction of new modern areas such as “ La Défense ” and the preservation of old areas – a revolutionary step for its time, as throughout history the French preferred to destroy the old and build new in its place.

The leader of the conservation revolution was André Malraux, the legendary Minister of Culture. Instead of demolishing the Marais district , which years of neglect had turned into a poverty-stricken area, he decided to invest huge sums in its renovation. The result: the Marais became one of the most beloved and vibrant districts in Paris, combining ancient palaces with fashionable boutiques and trendy entertainment venues.

Paris from 1968 to the Present: Construction in the Shadow of Decline

As we have seen, the 60s were years of growth and prosperity. However, all of this began to turn around in 1968. As with other boom periods, such as the Belle Epoque, deep currents of disgust with the existing order simmered beneath the surface.

In the 60s, it was the students, influenced by Marxist and postmodernist ideas. The result was the “student revolt,” which erupted in May 1968 following a seemingly minor incident (a ban on students entering female dormitories at the University of Nanterre). The revolt quickly spread to Paris, and the Left Bank, where most of the Sorbonne’s faculties were located, became a battlefield where students threw paving stones at the police (this is why many streets in Paris are now paved with asphalt rather than stone).

France suffers from the consequences of the student uprising of that year to this day. From a working and creative country, it has become, in the eyes of many, a resentful and lazy country, occasionally erupting in fits of rage that manifest themselves in endless strikes and riots (such as the “yellow vest” protests ).

To deal with the social unrest, large sections of workers in France were granted extraordinary social conditions (one or two months of vacation per year, a shortened work week, early retirement, etc.). The result was not long in coming. Since the 70s, France has suffered from a worsening recession, and in recent years, also from rising unemployment.

In parallel with the expansion of the welfare state, France opened its doors to mass immigration from North Africa in the 60s and 70s. The result was an accelerated growth of the Muslim population, the majority of which survives on welfare benefits. The growth in this population led to the creation of ghettos on the outskirts of cities, some of which became areas that the police refused to enter. This process accelerated France’s economic decline, and at the same time brought with it an unprecedented wave of terrorism, which culminated in the attacks at Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan. Does this mean that France, and Paris in particular, have become dangerous and intolerable areas? Not at all.

Despite the many crises it has experienced in recent decades, France is still a rich and powerful country. During the 70s, 80s and 90s, French governments invested huge sums in construction and renovation projects, which are enjoyed by many tourists every year: from the Pompidou Center, which has become one of the most successful museums in the world, to the conversion of the old train station into the Musée d'Orsay, to the massive renovation of the Louvre . All of this, along with great food, enviable public transportation and thousands of years of history, make Paris a place you can't miss.

Want to read more about the history of Paris?

This is the end of the series of articles on the history of Paris. I hope you enjoyed the journey through time. You are welcome to read more articles about different periods in the history of the City of Lights.