Renowned political scientist Nona Maguer has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Sociology at the University of Athens, where she discussed the current crisis of democracy in France.
Nona Maguer, a distinguished French political scientist and honorary professor at Sciences Po in Paris, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Department of Sociology at the University of Athens. Throughout her career, she has focused her research on electoral behavior, the rise of the far-right, racism, anti-Semitism, and social insecurity. In an interview before receiving her honorary degree, she addressed significant issues surrounding the state of democracy in France.
In her remarks, Maguer highlighted the growing concern regarding the crisis of representative democracy in France, an issue she has co-authored a book about, titled "French democracy in distress." This publication features contributions from 24 social scientists and aims to integrate France's situation into the broader international discourse on democratic challenges that have intensified over the past decade. She emphasized that democratic institutions in France are under considerable strain, reflecting a broader pattern observed across many European countries.
Maguer's insights point to the rising discontent among the French public towards political institutions and the increasing appeal of extremist political movements. Her analysis serves as a vital reminder of the need to address the underlying causes of democratic dissatisfaction, not only in France but also throughout Europe, encouraging renewed conversations about the future of democracy in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
