A Quiet Decline: How France's 'Tabacs' are Fueling Le Pen's Rise
In the French countryside, a silent crisis is unfolding. The once-thriving "tabac" - or tobacco shop-barrister, a fixture of village life since World War II - is disappearing at an alarming rate. These zinc-topped shops, offering everything from cigarettes to lottery tickets and local gossip, have been closing by the thousands, leaving rural communities bereft of their social hubs.
The demise of these tabacs has profound implications for French politics, particularly in the far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen. Researchers have found a stark connection between the closure of these shops and an increase in support for Le Pen's National Rally. According to one study, areas that lost a bar-tabac saw a surge in RN votes, often as high as 3.6%.
At first glance, it may seem like a minor factor in the grand tapestry of French politics. However, experts argue that the closure of these social venues has created a vacuum that far-right parties are uniquely equipped to fill.
As the traditional gathering places for locals disappear, people turn to more isolated sources of information - often television pundits peddling simplistic solutions to complex problems. This echo chamber effect amplifies far-right narratives of decline and scapegoating immigrants, drawing in voters who feel left behind by the changing world around them.
"We're not seeing a sudden explosion of support for RN," says postdoctoral researcher Hugo Subtil, "but rather a gradual erosion of social ties that ultimately manifests at the ballot box."
Subt's study found that rural areas, where tabacs were more likely to close, saw an even greater spike in RN votes. In these communities, people are left with limited options for social interaction and community engagement - making them susceptible to simplistic narratives from far-right politicians.
Meanwhile, research on the decline of Britain's pubs has highlighted a similar link between community loss and increased support for far-right parties. It seems that as traditional gathering places disappear, certain demographics become increasingly disillusioned with mainstream politics and turn to radical alternatives.
Le Pen herself has long capitalized on this sentiment, painting her party as the champions of rural France's "left behind" communities. Her rhetoric often centers around themes of abandonment and nostalgia for a bygone era - a narrative that resonates deeply in areas where traditional shops like tabacs have vanished.
However, Subt's findings offer some encouraging news: he argues that policy can play a crucial role in reversing this trend. By investing in the redevelopment of these social hubs, policymakers may be able to break the cycle of isolation and disillusionment that has contributed to RN's rise.
As France gears up for municipal elections later this year, the fate of Le Pen's National Rally hangs precariously in the balance. The quiet decline of tabacs - those zinc-topped shops that once stood at the heart of village life - may prove to be a turning point in French politics.
In the French countryside, a silent crisis is unfolding. The once-thriving "tabac" - or tobacco shop-barrister, a fixture of village life since World War II - is disappearing at an alarming rate. These zinc-topped shops, offering everything from cigarettes to lottery tickets and local gossip, have been closing by the thousands, leaving rural communities bereft of their social hubs.
The demise of these tabacs has profound implications for French politics, particularly in the far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen. Researchers have found a stark connection between the closure of these shops and an increase in support for Le Pen's National Rally. According to one study, areas that lost a bar-tabac saw a surge in RN votes, often as high as 3.6%.
At first glance, it may seem like a minor factor in the grand tapestry of French politics. However, experts argue that the closure of these social venues has created a vacuum that far-right parties are uniquely equipped to fill.
As the traditional gathering places for locals disappear, people turn to more isolated sources of information - often television pundits peddling simplistic solutions to complex problems. This echo chamber effect amplifies far-right narratives of decline and scapegoating immigrants, drawing in voters who feel left behind by the changing world around them.
"We're not seeing a sudden explosion of support for RN," says postdoctoral researcher Hugo Subtil, "but rather a gradual erosion of social ties that ultimately manifests at the ballot box."
Subt's study found that rural areas, where tabacs were more likely to close, saw an even greater spike in RN votes. In these communities, people are left with limited options for social interaction and community engagement - making them susceptible to simplistic narratives from far-right politicians.
Meanwhile, research on the decline of Britain's pubs has highlighted a similar link between community loss and increased support for far-right parties. It seems that as traditional gathering places disappear, certain demographics become increasingly disillusioned with mainstream politics and turn to radical alternatives.
Le Pen herself has long capitalized on this sentiment, painting her party as the champions of rural France's "left behind" communities. Her rhetoric often centers around themes of abandonment and nostalgia for a bygone era - a narrative that resonates deeply in areas where traditional shops like tabacs have vanished.
However, Subt's findings offer some encouraging news: he argues that policy can play a crucial role in reversing this trend. By investing in the redevelopment of these social hubs, policymakers may be able to break the cycle of isolation and disillusionment that has contributed to RN's rise.
As France gears up for municipal elections later this year, the fate of Le Pen's National Rally hangs precariously in the balance. The quiet decline of tabacs - those zinc-topped shops that once stood at the heart of village life - may prove to be a turning point in French politics.
. I think what really hurts is that these zinc-topped shops weren't just about selling cigarettes, but also about being a hub for the community to catch up on gossip, lottery tickets, and just chill out, you know? It's like they're leaving behind a piece of their social history.
. It's just sad to think about the tabacs closing down one by one...
, people are losing their social hubs and gathering places where they can connect with locals... it's creating this vacuum that far-right parties are filling with their narratives 
. And it's not just France, I've seen similar things happening in other countries too... like how pubs in Britain were closing down and suddenly support for right-wing parties was on the rise 
. It's like people are looking for a sense of community and connection but instead they're getting isolation and division... 
. I think policymakers need to take note of this and invest in creating more community spaces that bring people together, not drive them apart 
. I mean, I get it, ppl feel left behind, but RN's just exploitin' that feeling & amplifying it into this whole "us vs them" narrative 
. But, like, what if we invested in revivin' these tabacs instead? Maybe then ppl wouldn't be so turnt off by mainstream politics 
. Not sure if it's a good thing or not lol
I'm kinda skeptical about this whole "tabac" trend thing. Like, isn't it weird that these tiny shops are disappearing and then right-wing parties start gaining support? 
It sounds like a pretty convenient narrative for far-right folks to fill the void left by lost social hubs. I mean, where's the evidence that it's not just people being manipulated by simplistic messages? 
And what about the fact that RN is already super popular in rural areas? That can't be just because of the tabacs, right? 
I mean, what's up with these "tabac" shops? They're like the village pub, but instead of beer, they sell smokes and lottery tickets. Anyway, it sounds like France is losing its social hubs, and people are turning to... well, not exactly experts, but more like TV pundits 
. And it's amazing how far-right parties are tapping into that sense of isolation. Like, "Hey, we're the ones who'll bring back the good old days" 
.
. But here's the thing – it's not just about the tabs, it's about the people who lose them. Those rural areas that are closing down these shops might be voting for Le Pen because they feel left behind 
. And I'm like, "Hey, can't we find a way to bring those communities back together?" 
. Maybe the tabac shops have to go, but that doesn't mean we should be all sad about it 
.
. Fingers crossed! 
. And now that they're closing down left and right, I guess people are just going to turn to whatever comes next... maybe some nationalist propaganda or whatever