Beyond the obvious: Who pays France's bill? Lessons from the past
In April 2025, Daniel Stelter spoke with historian Michael Sonenscher about government debt, inequality, and the intellectual origins of the French Revolution.
France is experiencing protests in 2026 amid high debt, growing interest burdens, and a challenging political struggle over the budget. The issue goes beyond the unrest, as the question arises of how a state can fulfill its obligations if there is no agreement on who should bear the burdens. Historically, France's debt issue has become a matter of power.
Dr. Michael Sonenscher from King's College in Cambridge discussed state debt, inequality, and the intellectual origins of the French Revolution in an episode titled "Vor revolutionären Zeiten" on April 20, 2025.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
