It has been several years since some of our leaders became aware that we are in a state of permanent economic war, with our political partners or our diplomatic adversaries, but another war, less visible but just as violent, is raging: the war of 'information.
To discover
PODCAST - Listen to the club Le Club Le Figaro Idées with Eugénie Bastié
This war covers several aspects, from the dissemination of false information to cyberattacks, including the manipulation of information for the general public.
It is the preferred weapon of countries which control their information,
unlike
those where speech is free (in our democracies), making it possible to pit citizens against each other.
Because when speech is free, it can be all the more easily manipulated.
The statements of the Director General of Internal Security (DGSI) of February 2, 2023 support the interest of foreign interference for our territories.
“Certain countries that we have cited are very interested in the territorial level, these elected officials being decision-makers from an economic and financial point of view and being able to engage a part of the sovereignty, they in fact constitute targets.
If Paris and the government do not take care of the Province, the sub-prefectural towns, the territories, it is Russia, China... who will take care of it.
This growing gap between Paris and the rest of France generates strong resentment, with a real feeling of abandonment.
This feeling of abandonment of territories fuels resentment and anger, and is fertile ground for populism;
we see this clearly, but also for foreign actors who want (and will work) to destabilize us.
The increasingly problematic situation objectively regarding the cost of living, housing, energy, transport, the incalculable standards which prevent mayors from moving forward.
The standards would cost €4,300 for each French person per year, according to the Molinari Economic Institute.
They hit the sub-prefectural areas all the more.
This is very fertile ground for amplifying divorce and distrust, as has been done in the United States.
Our challenge for 2027: prevent the emergence of a populist movement similar to MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) which surfs on these problems and will be supported by foreign influence operations to create a definitive break between citizens and their elected.
Above all, in our increasingly fragmented society, where power is losing real influence, lost between a need for communication demanded by social networks and continuous news channels which moves away from the daily feelings of the French (inflation, impoverishment of France, concerns about access to public services) and decisions that are sometimes misunderstood or poorly explained ("yellow vests", farmers' demonstrations, lack of consultation with local stakeholders: mayors, SMEs and VSEs, ETIs ( mid-sized companies)…), the possibilities of pitting us against each other are numerous.
Remember that Facebook has more than 3 billion subscribers worldwide.
YouTube has 2.5 billion, etc.
WhatsApp and TikTok play a determining role, much more significant than the major national, regional, or even global media.
Also read: Axel Bruneau: “Demonstrations against pension reform or the revolt of the sub-prefectures”
The sub-prefectural towns, the beating heart of France, the nerve endings of the Republic, deserve to be considered.
They suffer from feeling relegated, not considered, by a government and a political format which takes very little interest in the territories.
This feeling of abandonment of territories fuels resentment and anger, and is fertile ground for populism;
we see this clearly, but also for foreign actors who want (and will work) to destabilize us.
We've had a few warning shots this year of the Olympics (bedbugs, in particular!), but it could go much further.
Rumors and manipulations are all the more effective in territories that feel abandoned by the Republic, as political communication refusing to take responsibility for problems, recognizing errors, does not ultimately allow
the
right diagnoses to be made to find solutions. adapted.
This only breeds distrust in our leaders.
The Covid crisis has amply shown this, where procrastination has been an opportunity to push conspiracy theories on the origin of the disease or the effectiveness of vaccines, once again supported by foreign avatars.
Medium-sized towns and sub-prefectures deserve to be represented and embodied, considered and valued, to remain even stronger in the face of external aggression.
The context of information warfare today makes it a maximum risk for our democracy.
It is by feeling deceived and abandoned by the elites in the United States, while being manipulated on social networks by various actors, all enemies of democracy, that a significant part of rural America and disadvantaged social classes have fallen into conspiracy.
The same path awaits us, but it is not inevitable.
As long as you anticipate it and work for it.
There is a lot to do to act in this information war, but the first step, too often forgotten, remains to give consideration to our fellow citizens: the less divided we are, the more difficult it will be to show each other against others.
Let's take into consideration medium-sized cities and sub-prefectures.
From Brittany to the Southern Region, from Occitanie to Burgundy-Franche-Comté, from Nouméa to Guyana, France exists.
She breathes;
she lives.
They deserve to be represented and embodied, considered and valued, to remain even stronger in the face of external aggression.
How ?
Speak the truth and see the truth between Paris and local elected officials: recognize the problems, put words to them, work with local elected officials in order to quickly find solutions together.
The French people know how to come together, we saw this again recently with the tribute to Robert Badinter;
it is important to do it - now - in order to build the future!
The petitioners :
Guillaume Sylvestre, associate researcher, expert in the analysis of information manipulation, University of Angers, treasurer of the association Movement for the development of sub-prefectural cities; Bernard Liperini, mayor of Castellane (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, 04); Patrick Judalet, mayor of La Châtre (Indre, 36); Marc Angenault, mayor of LOCHES (Indre-et-Loire, 37); François Dietsch, Mayor of Val de Briey (Meurthe-et-Moselle, 54); Chantal-Marie Malus, mayor of Château-Chinon (Nièvre, 58); Christophe Rivenq, 1st deputy mayor of Alès and president of Alès agglo; Antoine Schwoerer, former ministerial advisor and Deputy Secretary of the Movement for the Development of Cities Sub-prefectures association; Fabien Verdier, mayor of Châteaudun (Eure-et-Loir, 28) and president of the Movement association for the development of sub-prefectural towns.