Growing concern about the future of citizenship
When asked about the evolution of citizenship, the French give a rather pessimistic prognosis: 86% think that our society is heading towards a greater desire for individual success and personal enrichment, 85% anticipate widespread indifference towards others, and 84% foresee a withdrawal into individualism. This prognosis is accompanied by the fear of growing indifference towards public affairs, fuelled by excessive media coverage and the superficiality of debates: 80% anticipate a growing disinterest among citizens in collective affairs, and 78% accuse the media of turning politics into a spectacle.
This diagnosis is particularly prevalent among older people, who are more likely to perceive an inward-looking attitude and a lack of interest in public affairs. In fact, 60% of French people consider their own generation to be more civic-minded than the next, a figure that rises to 71% among those aged 65 and over. Conversely, young people are slightly less alarmist, suggesting an opening towards a renewed relationship with citizenship.
Even more worrying is the evolution of public opinion over time on these indicators, with the rise of individualism and a loss of interest in civic life clearly more predicted than in the past (between +11 pts and +28 pts depending on the item).
Civic-mindedness in the face of institutional and media mistrust
The rise in verbal aggression is a strong symptom of civic malaise: the French perceive it massively in political debates, on social networks, in the public space, and in the media (over 70%). They believe that social networks and the media are divisive factors: 83% and 74% respectively think that they fracture society more than they promote civic-mindedness.
This is accompanied by a loss of confidence in political elites. While the police (73%) and mayors (69%) are relatively judged as exemplary, elected representatives (36%), ministers (26%) and members of parliament (24%) seem to be perceived as uninspiring in civic terms.
A vision of civic-mindednessbasedmainly on respect (for rules, for people)
For the majority of French people, civic-mindedness is first and foremost embodied in the rules of good manners: 95% consider this to be the primary embodiment of civic-mindedness, ahead of respect for institutions (75%) and commitment to one’s community (30%). Being a good citizen means respecting the rules of community life (95%), respecting others regardless of their origins (89%), and preserving the environment (87%). Paying taxes (85%), keeping up to date with the news (83%) and voting (82%) are also considered essential.
On the other hand, traditional forms of political commitment are largely relegated to the background: only 13% consider that belonging to a trade union is essential to being a good citizen, and 11% that being active in a political party is necessary. Community involvement, however, attracts young people more than their elders.
This conception of citizenship reflects an approach that is more behavioral than militant: citizens are expected to be respectful, responsible, disciplined and informed, but not necessarily involved in public life.
Self-indulgence in civic-mindedness, coupled with a highly critical view of others
Despite this open attachment to rules, the French admit to having transgressed certain norms themselves. On average, they accumulate 3.6 uncivil behaviors out of 12 listed, with a marked difference between men (4.2) and women (3). In detail, the most common incivilities concern the car – exceeding speed limits (78% of drivers have already done so) and unauthorized parking (50%) – and the behaviors least considered uncivil (throwing a cigarette butt, spitting on the ground, paying at the black).
Nevertheless, the people surveyed rate themselves positively in terms of civic-mindedness: they give themselves an average mark of 7.5/10, but attribute only 5/10 to their fellow citizens; an indulgence towards oneself coupled with a severity towards others, revealing a climate of mutual distrust, which can complicate the feeling of belonging to a collective sharing the same values.
Civic-mindedness also embodied inrespectfor symbols and institutions, even if this vision is more divisive
Beyond the rules of good manners, the French show a strong attachment to republican symbols and their transmission (this is the second incarnation of civic-mindedness, at 75%). Nearly nine out of 10 of them say they are in favor of learning and singing the Marseillaise in school (87%), and nearly three-quarters approve of compulsory participation by schoolchildren in national commemorations (71%).
At the same time, a large number of respondents would like to see the French flag displayed on public buildings (87%) and in schools (79%).
These are clear-cut results, but they are divided along age lines (older people are more in favor) and, above all, along partisan lines, with those interviewed in the center or on the right of the political spectrum judging these initiatives much more positively than those on the left.
In third place: citizen involvement in local life… Except for schoolchildren!
Compared to respect for rules and institutions, community involvement is seen as less of a proof of civic-mindedness (3rd place, 30%). In fact, it’s also the least implemented definition of citizenship: 36% of French people consider themselves to be involved in the life of their commune (44% among the under-35s), and 54% say they are prepared to devote a little time each month to local civic actions (an average of 7.3 hours) for activities such as food drives, garbage collection or participation in town councils.
Nevertheless, in showing their overwhelming support for the Civic Passport (90% of French people think that this type of initiative should be made as widespread as possible in France), and in particular for the local actions it promotes, those interviewed are plebiscising, for schoolchildren, a civicism that is grassroots, concrete and supportive. The activities encouraged (first aid, neighborhood clean-up, visits to the most isolated) reveal a vision of civic-mindedness based on mutual aid, responsibility and local commitment rather than on a national and patriotic vision (for example, participation in commemorations and visits to historical monuments are much less popular activities).
