PSYCHOHISTORY OF THE 2012 QUÉBEC STUDENT REVOLT

Abstract

This paper examines the psychohistory and consequences of the massive student demonstrations, often featuring mass erotic displays, which erupted in Montréal, Québec, in 2012. These marches, to protest an increase in university fees proposed by the education ministry as an austerity measure, provoked a political crisis that brought down the democratically-elected government of the province. The crisis reflected the historical isolation of Québec, the socioeconomic structure which has emerged there as a substitute for organized religion, and the psychological dependency fostered by a utopian political system, which have all fed a strong sense of entitlement in many citizens, enabled by a benevolent mother-state. This cultural pattern encouraged students to make 'impossible' financial demands, while resenting the state as an insufficiently-indulgent parent who was hindering their wishfulfillment fantasies. These unprecedented events, which carry serious implications for the future of welfare-state liberal democracy, can best be understood by examining the history, culture, and family dynamics of the distinctive society of Québec.