Photo : Victoire Tuaillon
OVERTURN THE TABLE with Victoire Tuaillon – How to disarm those who want war?
Faced with all the world's woes, discouragement awaits us. What forms of engagement and activism should we turn to if we want to act for a better world? Is it possible to be an activist without violence and to fight without sectarianism? At her microphone, Victoire Tuaillon invites activists and researchers to speak without jargon or taboos for public recordings of her podcast «Renverser la table.»
MAIF Social Club (Paris 3rd)
About
«Capitalism carries within it war as the cloud carries the storm,» warned Jean Jaurès at the beginning of the 20th century. After the economic crises of our century, «rearmament» is once again on everyone's lips. The war economy is imposed through austerity, Empires are militarizing, France remains the world's second-largest arms seller, and the annihilation of Gaza continues. Faced with this martial normalization, how can we reconnect with a forgotten tradition: that of the social struggles that stood up against conquering nationalism, the uniform, and the sacred union?
Pierre Douillard-Lefèvre knows what he is talking about. Mutilated by a rubber bullet in 2007, while still a high school student, he has dedicated twenty years of research to the militarization of law enforcement and the rise of authoritarianism, while working alongside those injured by police and activists against the arms industry. A social science researcher, illustrator, and independent journalist, he is the author, among other works, of Maudite soit la guerre (Divergences Publishing), an anti-militarist resistance manual that draws on the experience of refuseniks of yesterday and today: «There has never been so much militaristic discourse, and so few anti-militarist counter-discourses,» he warns.
Alongside him will be activists from the Guerre à la Guerre (War on War) coalition, which has brought together twenty-four organizations since January 2025 (from the Soulèvements de la Terre to the Inverti·es and Tsedek) to, in their own words, «disarm the machines of war.»
Our take on this event
With militarism creeping back into the mainstream discourse, it is time to rediscover the legacy of those who resisted it. Join this insightful discussion as speakers break down the roots of modern warmongering and share tactics for building a culture of peace. A deeply provocative session for anyone interested in challenging current geopolitical trends through a social lens.
On February 11, 2027, the MAIF Social Club hosts the event Renverser la table, moderated by Victoire Tuaillon. This discussion focuses on the rise of militaristic rhetoric and ways to counteract the current war economy. Guest speaker Pierre Douillard-Lefèvre, author of Maudite soit la guerre, will be joined by members of the coalition Guerre à la Guerre to analyze historical and contemporary social struggles against nationalism and the arms industry. This session is free to attend, requires a reservation, and is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. Join this critical debate held in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris.
As current economic policies emphasize rearmament, the event scheduled for February 11, 2027, examines the overlooked traditions of social movements that have historically stood against militarism. Hosted at the MAIF Social Club at 37 rue de Turenne, the discussion explores how civil society can challenge the martial normalization that permeates our modern geopolitical landscape.
Pierre Douillard-Lefèvre, a social scientist and independent journalist who has spent two decades documenting authoritarianism and police violence, headlines the panel. His insights are complemented by representatives from the coalition Guerre à la Guerre—a group formed in January 2025 comprising twenty-four diverse organizations such as Les Soulèvements de la Terre and Tsedek. Together, they discuss tactical approaches to dismantling war-making machinery and fostering effective counter-narratives.
The session runs from 19:30 to 21:00. Admission is free, although advance booking is mandatory to attend. Please note that the event is intended for an audience of 18 years and older.
