(Published on October 14, 2026, by Walter Grobe in German, English translation done by Google, with corrections by the author)
The protests were clearly bound to happen.
In Germany, the policy of systematically running down the education system—a process that began decades ago—is patently obvious. Now, we are seeing clear evidence that the situation in France is no better, and perhaps even worse. The same applies to Belgium, Greece, Albania… and in those places—if not yet here—unrest is now breaking out.
Governments ought to realize that their entire vision for society is being challenged.
Consequently, I do not expect them to fundamentally change course in their education policy.
When the younger generation is treated this poorly, it becomes possible—at least in broad strokes—to discern the kind of future society that those in power, and the capital interests standing behind them, are actually aiming for: poorly educated masses of millions of young people—people whom capital can no longer productively employ, and has no desire to employ—along with mass unemployment, impoverishment, a lack of culture, an absence of cultivated interaction with others and their opinions, and the incitement of disoriented segments of the population against one another… European societies in a state of deep decay, losing their humane traditions.
If significant portions of the younger generation are in the mood to no longer participate in the orchestrated ruin of education and social cohesion, it might just prompt other parts of society to reconsider the unfortunate path they have followed—a path they have walked along, for the most part, quite compliantly, cluessly, and without resistance.
It appears that various specific political agendas are playing a role in these student actions—or, rather, are being injected into them by interested parties. In my view, these actions are fundamentally justified, yet one should not completely overlook certain negative aspects. Media reports mention—and perhaps deliberately emphasize—Islamist activities. Furthermore, there has been talk of a kind of „generational hatred“—a settling of scores by a young generation, whose own future looks bleak, against an older generation that continues to live in comfort, seemingly indifferent to everything else.
Briefly, here is my perspective: In France, a large portion of the younger generation driving these protests likely comes from a Muslim cultural background. Israel’s policies—marked by countless atrocities against populations across the region, from Egypt to Iraq—inevitably fuel widespread hatred toward the Israeli state. This sentiment is then exploited by Islamist movements—which are, in essence, no better—and reframed as general antisemitism. Consequently, a state of „neither war nor peace“ has persisted for decades in a highly unproductive and destructive manner; it is actively leveraged by those in power—in the U.S., Israel, and among the wealthy elites of various Islamic nations, such as Saudi Arabia—to consolidate their own authority. Unless Muslim and pro-Palestinian movements manage to clearly distance themselves from Islamist currents, this „hellish circus“ will only continue, increasingly permeating French society and other European societies as well. In my view, not every group demanding freedom for Gaza and Palestine deserves support; behind the scenes, some are actually backed by the very same power brokers who support Israel.
The slogan „down with the boomers“ is no better, either. If significant portions of the younger generation are steered into such a mindset, a societal collapse into inhumanity draws even closer. The visions for society held by „tech bros“—such as Thiel, Musk, or Karp—could then become reality, without these individuals ever having to appear directly as the architects of destruction and mass death.
Among the older generation—and those in Europe who remain relatively well-off—there ought to happen a widespread shift away from a mentality defined by luxury cruises and oversized SUVs. This would allow for the growth of genuine understanding and practical support for the masses of young people who currently see no future for themselves. We must actively counter any attempts to incite intergenerational conflict.
So much for my initial, spontaneous reaction to the latest reports.