Was the “Block Everything” movement predicted by a French philosopher who died 30 years ago?

Interview: Visionary Jacques Ellul, author of the concept of "non-power," anticipated what the September 10th day of mobilization might be. Yes! Explanations from Margaux Cassan, a philosophy researcher and expert on Ellul's work.

Interview by Arnaud Gonzague

Published on September 7, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. , updated September 8, 2025 at 10:05 a.m.

Jacques Ellul, April 20, 1978. ULF ANDERSEN / AURIMAGES VIA AFP

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This is a drawing by the brilliant Lefred-Thouron, published this Wednesday, September 3, in "Le Canard enchaîné." It shows a guy in bed, smirking, arms crossed behind his head. His wife: "Not up yet? What are you doing?" He: "I'm practicing blocking the country!" The drawing says a lot about this singular day of September 10, destined to be that of the "Block everything" movement , launched on social networks at the beginning of the summer.

What will this self-proclaimed blockade look like? It's impossible to seriously predict. But among the movement's initiators (if the term "initiator" even has any meaning here), some dream of a massive consumer strike by the French. Who would, for example,...