Why Paris Is Still Divided

Why does one half of Paris vote for the Right, while the other half votes for the Left? In this video we take a deep dive into French geopolitics and history: we analyze the 2026 election results to uncover a divide that started 400 years ago. From the "Royal Pull" of Versailles to the smoky industrial winds of the East, we explore how 17th-century aristocrats and 19th-century urban planners like Haussmann accidentally drew the political borders of modern France. We also investigate the "Long Silence", the century when Paris was the only major city in France (and the world) without a mayor, and the radical experiment of the Paris Commune that led to that. 00:00 Divided Paris 01:47 Merchant Provosts & Medieval Rule 03:10 1789 Revolution & The First Mayor 04:16 The Long Silence: 100 Years Without a Leader 05:50 Chirac Era: Restoring the Office 06:43 25 Year Socialist Streak 08:25 Royal Pull: Why the West is Right 09:25 Industrial Wind: Why the East is Left 10:18 Haussmann’s Scars: Forced Segregation 11:27 The Eternal Split: Modern Election Data Become a member on Patreon & get your name in the credits + exclusive content! https://www.patreon.com/generalknowledge Stay up to date on more content from me: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@generalknowledge.pt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genknowledge/