'These youths don't celebrate together. They build nothing. They defend no idea. They destroy'

The recent triumph of Paris Saint-Germain was marred by significant riots across France, raising concerns about the destructive behavior of some youths. Psychologist Marie-Estelle Dupont suggests that a decades-long erosion of authority figures, parents, teachers, and judges, is a primary cause for this trend.

Dupont observes a concerning shift from celebratory gatherings to acts of vandalism and violence following major events. She notes that many French families now withdraw from public spaces due to fear, transforming large events into security risks. This contrasts sharply with her childhood memories of football victories being occasions for pure celebration.

She argues that the notion that all authority is suspect has had detrimental effects. Dupont posits that prohibitions, rather than being mere restrictions, serve as protection. The understanding that one cannot destroy everything implies that others cannot destroy one's own property either. This principle, she believes, is fundamental for social order.

While acknowledging factors like poverty and social exclusion, Dupont asserts they do not fully explain the phenomenon. She points to the weakening of educational institutions, where the relationship between teachers and students has become overly egalitarian, diminishing the value of knowledge and learning. This, she contends, hinders the development of impulse control. Young people who do not find recognition through knowledge or achievement may seek it through destructive acts, where destruction itself becomes a form of validation.