From crumbling classrooms in France to a housing market in Portugal that is so overpriced it feels out of reach, young people in Europe are turning to protest, and it is becoming increasingly more clear that governments must stop treating their anger as the problem and start addressing its causes.
Over the last few weeks news sites have been flooded with videos of buildings being burnt to the ground, accounts of widespread looting, and violent clashes between the police and protesters. Primarily in France, but also across Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Belgium. Demonstrations have brought thousands to the streets to express their discontent with the cost of living and quality of public services. But what has driven so many people, particularly young people, to feel that taking to the streets is their only option?
Protests in France emerged over a month ago and have been primarily led by students demanding better conditions than the dilapidated classrooms and excruciatingly intense university admission system they currently deal with. More troubling still, there has been a severe lack of teachers, with students often missing months of teaching as a result of unfilled staff absences.
Meanwhile, Spain faces a worsening housing crisis, with tenants struggling to afford rent and facing eviction for being unable to pay unexpected and significantly inflated rent increases, and in Portugal housing prices have more than doubled.
Although circumstances differ across each respective nation, the underlying aggravations practically mirror each other. Across borders, it is apparent that for many, financial security is practically unattainable and the message is clear: young people are fed up with having unsure futures.
Throughout the protests, governments and media alike have been shoving images of violence and theft down the throat of the public. Although condemning violence is in many cases necessary, treating condemnation as a substitute for policy change is not. French President Macron has called for “calm and order” but his plea does not address the cause behind the discontent.
It is considerably easier for politicians to condemn a riot than it is to hire new teachers, raise minimum wages, or create legislation to improve the standard for students and workers alike. Governments must therefore replace deploying more police with enacting meaningful policy. France must address teacher shortages and invest in schools. Spain and Portugal must take housing affordability seriously, strengthening tenant protections and expanding access to homes.
These large scale socio-economic problems cannot be fixed overnight, but difficulty isn’t an acceptable excuse for inaction. Young people should not have to resort to mass protest for their concerns to be addressed by the people whose jobs it is to do so. Politicians must listen and acknowledge when policies are failing.
The protests raging across Europe should serve as a warning. The violent demonstrations must end, but they can’t be expected to do so until governments stop being complacent in the suffering of their people.
“Manifestations du 17 octobre 0101” by Jules* is licensed under CC BY 4.0
