Very often, the “ism” associated with a leader describes rather a strategy for conquering power, a way of doing politics, a character more than ideas. This is – for example – the difference between Mitterrandism and Rocardism on the left. Mitterrandism speaks more about François Mitterrand, his history, his maneuvers, his epic while Rocardism, like Mendesism or Chevènementism, attaches itself to a particular branch of the left and socialism.
As for the melenchonismthe question arises. The man is closely interested in ideas and political traditions and tries to adapt them to the spirit of the times. But his character and his way of acting undoubtedly define him more than his ideological positioning. Moreover, as Thierry Pech, the boss of think tank Newfoundland, Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a bit like the Serge Gainsbourg of politics: he always tries to stay up to date. Gainsbourg went from jazz to rock, from rock to reggae, from reggae to variety. Above all, never be out of fashion.
Mélenchon was a Trotskyist, then a notable socialist senator, a smug Mitterrandist, a wise deputy minister, a Jacobin republican, a rigorous priest-eating secularist, then a left-wing populist, a fierce universalist and finally sensitive to intersectional theories. Classic tribune, sometimes pompous, who hesitates between radicalism and extremism, unless he confuses them…
Does he really want power like Mitterrand? However, he does not follow the same gathering strategy. Does he rather want to mark the history of the left of his magisterium, like Jaurès? But then why does he systematically break his image as a wise theoretician with an abrasive character?
With our guests, certified “melenchonologists”, we will try to clarify melenchonism to fuel reflections and discussions, since Jean-Luc Mélenchon is undoubtedly one of the main subjects of discussion among left-wing sympathizers, whom they whether admiring or exasperated…
Bibliography:
- François Bazin, The Red Godfather. Pierre Lambert the secret lives of a revolutionaryLead, 2024.
- Lilian Alemagna and Stéphane Alliès. Mélenchon, to conquer the people, Editions Robert Laffont, 2018.
- Lilian Alemagna and Stéphane Alliès. Mélenchon the plebeianEditions Robert Laffont, 2012.
