Far-left politics in France

Historically, the far-left has distinguished itself by opposing the reformist left represented by the PCF and the SFIO, advocating instead for the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a classless, egalitarian society.

[1][2] The roots of the far-left in France can be traced back to the French Revolution (1789–1799), particularly to the ideas of Gracchus Babeuf and the "Conspiracy of the Equals" in 1796.

The Commune—a radical socialist and revolutionary government—served as a model for future far-left movements, emphasizing workers' control and direct democracy.

Groups such as the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire (LCR) and Lutte Ouvrière (LO) gained prominence, advocating for workers' councils and anti-capitalist struggle.

The Gauche Prolétarienne (GP), a Maoist organization, and the Union des Jeunesses Communistes Marxistes-Léninistes (UJCML) played pivotal roles.

The Parti des Travailleurs (PT) emerged from the Trotskyist tradition, while anarchist groups like Alternative Libertaire gained influence within social movements.

Recent years have seen the rise of autonomist activism, including the ZAD de Notre-Dame-des-Landes and Black Bloc tactics during protests.

As global issues like climate change and inequality persist, the far-left continues to adapt its strategies to address contemporary challenges.