Classic western values, such as freedom of speech and tolerance, need all the defenders they can find today, so congratulations to French President Emmanuel Macron for volunteering for the mission. It is not an easy task, but it is important. Mr. Macron is right to conclude that it is vital for France’s future – and we would add, for America’s future.
Macron and his government ministers in recent months have struggled against illiberal and divisive philosophies that they say emanate from American universities. Mr. Macron in October condemned the influence of “certain social science theories entirely imported from the United States”.
He refers, in particular, to the habit of viewing most issues in racial terms – a fundamental principle of “wokeness” – and his government wants educational institutions to avoid this. The Minister of Higher Education, Frédérique Vidal, promised this week an investigation on academics “looking at everything through the prism of wanting to fracture and divide”.
This is part of a broader effort to reaffirm French values after many years of Islamic terrorist attacks. Mr. Macron is also pushing for a new crackdown on religious extremism, and his law to that end was passed by a National Assembly chamber this week.
Macron’s political and philosophical vision is to unite the fight against violent extremism from outside France and the defense of internal democratic values. His October speech detailing his new plan to combat Islam included a warning that a focus on “post-colonial or anti-colonial” speech is a form of France’s “self-hatred” that allows Islam to flourish. Authorities like Ms. Vidal also warn against “Islamic leftism”.