Born in 1921, Edgar Morin is a former member of the French Resistance during World War II, an anthropologist of death, a sociologist of the present era, and a prophetic intellectual deeply engaged in civic life. As an analyst of new scientific paradigms, which led him to develop his concept of “complexity” in the six volumes of La Méthode (“The Method,” 1977-2004), and committed to understanding the forces behind historical dynamics – as most recently in Y a-t-il des leçons de l’histoire ? (“Are There Lessons from History?” 2025) – the centenarian philosopher reflects on the French and global situations.
How do you analyze the current political climate?
A powerful wave of neo-authoritarian regression is spreading across the world. Its most accomplished form is Chinese neo-totalitarianism, which relies not only on the police, but also on digital technology – facial recognition, monitoring of emails and phone communications, etc. – to consolidate its power. In Russia, Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship has worsened with the war waged in Ukraine. Hungary is under a neo-authoritarian regime. Italy is governed by a government in which some members are nostalgic for fascism. Fascist resurgences can be observed around the world, but fascism as a single totalitarian party has not reemerged as such. Donald Trump brought about the triumph of a reactionary America. And I could mention many Asian and Latin American countries. It may soon be midnight in the century.
Is France also under threat?
Yes, because national-populism favors one of the two Frances: the France that was for a long time monarchist, aristocratic and religious, a France that was Pétainist during the war, as opposed to the republican, secular and social France. The only way to resist it is with clear-sightedness and critical thinking.
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