French Literature Reviews - 2026

25 Years of Multitudes
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas

Last autumn, the journal Multitudes published its 100th issue. This spring, it is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of commitment to an editorial line dedicated to renewing the social, ecological, and political perspectives of a left wing largely clinging to established gains. It has also paved new paths for heterodox thought: the critique of republican reason, the praise of creolization, ecofeminism, the politics of care, indigenous perspectives, a federal Europe, queer disidentifications, digital struggles, heterodox financial analyses, and proposals for a universal basic income and a pollen tax. Readers can delve via Cairn into a retrospective list highlighting several key articles presenting the authors, ideas, and topics that have shaped the intellectual history of the journal Multitudes, and read an interview with Yves Citton, one of its co-directors alongside Sandra Laugier and Yann Moulier Boutang.

Founded in the wake of late twentieth-century social movements, the journal Multitudes has long served as a vital forum for French critical theory and heterodox political philosophy. By moving beyond traditional leftist dogmas, the publication has consistently bridged academic research and activist struggles. Under the editorial guidance of figures like Yves Citton, Sandra Laugier, and Yann Moulier Boutang, it has introduced French readers to global intellectual currents, from post-structuralist critiques of power to contemporary environmental humanities, making it a landmark in modern intellectual history.

This retrospective highlights the journal's role in popularizing crucial concepts such as ecofeminism, the politics of care, and creolization within Francophone debates. By addressing complex modern challenges—ranging from digital surveillance and financial instability to ecological collapse—the journal asks how collective action can be reimagined in an interconnected world. This resource is invaluable for researchers, students, and general readers interested in political science, contemporary philosophy, and the evolution of left-wing ideas in France over the last quarter-century.