France Withdraws Military Forces Amid Africa Base Closures, Colonial Backlash

The French Revolution remains a deeply divisive and foundational event in Western politics, influencing a wide spectrum of ideologies from socialism to the far right. Historian François Furet viewed the Terror as an inevitable outcome of the Revolution, a perspective shaped by Cold War anti-communism, while Robert Darnton highlights the complex cultural and literary origins of the Revolution beyond simplistic narratives. Jacques-Louis David’s 1793 painting, The Death of Marat, exemplifies the era’s intertwining of art and politics, portraying Marat as a Christ-like martyr to revolutionary ideals and serving as powerful propaganda. Meanwhile, contemporary France grapples with its colonial legacy and military presence in Africa, where President Macron faces backlash and base closures amidst criticism that France’s strategy perpetuates autocratic regimes rather than peace. These ongoing struggles with history and identity are also reflected culturally, such as in Joshua Harmon's play "Prayer for the French Republic," which explores the Jewish experience in France and the enduring fears of persecution and displacement. Together, these perspectives illustrate how France’s revolutionary past and colonial legacy continue to shape its political, cultural, and social realities today.