History of social security illuminates current debates
In an article published on October 4, 2025, in Le Monde, an expert examines how the history of social security in France can help reflect on its future without predicting it. The analysis emphasizes lessons from the past to inform contemporary reforms. It highlights the importance of a balanced historical perspective.
The article, published in Le Monde's Ideas section on October 4, 2025, bears the title 'Social security: history cannot predict the future, but it can help think about it.' It is an intellectual contribution that invites nuanced reflection on the evolution of the French social protection system.
The author recalls that social security was established in France after World War II, in 1945, under the impetus of figures like Ambroise Croizat and Pierre Laroque. This system, inspired by the British Beveridge model, aimed to cover the entire population against social risks such as illness, old age, and unemployment.
' History cannot predict the future, but it can help think about it ', the author states at the outset, emphasizing that past crises, such as the reforms of the 1960s or the adjustments of the 1990s in response to debt, offer valuable lessons. For example, the creation of family allowance funds in 1946 marked a key step in the universalization of rights.
The text discusses current challenges, such as demographic aging and budgetary pressures, without venturing into forecasts. It warns against overly linear interpretations of history, noting that 'each era forges its own responses to inequalities.' Historical examples, like the generalization of health coverage in 1960, illustrate how innovations emerged from specific contexts.
The analysis concludes that history serves as a compass for policymakers, fostering informed debate rather than dogma. It calls for a multidisciplinary approach, integrating economics, sociology, and politics, to anticipate evolutions without rigidifying them.
This perspective fits into ongoing discussions about the viability of social security, particularly in 2025, where reform proposals are stirring the French political landscape.