This chapter examines the dynamics of social protest in France over the past fifty years, particularly during the two presidencies of Emmanuel Macron. Long viewed as a quintessential movement society, France now faces a troubling disjunction between the vibrancy of protest and the state's declining responsiveness to social movements. We argue that since 2016, a repressive turn has emerged, echoing the authoritarian liberalism of figures like Margaret Thatcher, characterized by the erosion of labor protections, intolerance for dissent and a significant enhancement of police capabilities. This shift has led to a radicalization of state responses to popular protests, exemplified by movements such as the Gilets Jaunes and climate activism. Our analysis identifies two key periods: from 1981 to 2016, marked by robust protest activity, and from 2016 to 2023, during which increasing authoritarianism has curtailed effective political engagement. As the power of mass demonstrations has diminished, activists have increasingly turned to disruptive tactics, resulting in a cycle of escalation in both protest forms and state repression. The militarization of police forces, coupled with public support for repressive measures, has created an environment where conventional forms of protest encounter significant obstacles. We contend that the rising violence in collective expression reflects a profound disconnect between the public’s democratic and social expectations and the responses of political elites, particularly under Macron’s neoliberal agenda. Far from signaling democratic deconsolidation, these developments highlight the closing off of peaceful avenues for political expression, underscoring an urgent need to reevaluate state-society relations in contemporary France.