CHAOS INC.: Who’s who in the global mayhem network? Communists, Antifa, agitators in the red-green alliance.
The article introduces a database mapping groups involved in or connected to protest movements, beginning with an ecosystem of 287 groups in France. It aims to show how local organisations and chapters link to wider networks, offering readers a guide to who is involved and what roles they play.
The directory groups French organisations into categories, including 50 Antifa or antifascist groups, 27 student or youth groups, 27 communist, socialist or Trotskyist groups, and 24 labour unions. Other categories cover migrant rights and anti-racism, feminism and LGBTQ issues, climate activism, Palestine solidarity and other civic groups; the database is described as ongoing and subject to updates.
In short
- A new directory maps 287 groups in France’s protest ecosystem.
- It sorts organisations by ideology, cause and role.
- The database is intended to expand as networks emerge.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A directory that maps protest organisations and their links could help readers understand a complex activist landscape, identify who participates and see how local chapters connect to wider networks. If its entries are carefully sourced, clearly categorised and regularly updated, it can support transparency and informed reporting.
The case against
Grouping organisations under a label such as a “global mayhem network” risks implying coordination or shared intent that the directory may not establish. Broad categories can blur important differences among groups and causes, while inaccurate or decontextualised associations could stigmatise lawful activism and mislead readers.
Explained simply
Protest movements can involve a range of organisations, from local campaign groups and student associations to trade unions and political groups. Some work on issues such as climate change, migrants’ rights, feminism or support for Palestinians, and may sometimes take part in the same demonstrations.
The directory described here lists 287 groups in France and sorts them by their stated focus. It also aims to show links between local organisations, their chapters and wider networks; inclusion in the database does not by itself establish that groups share the same aims or take part in the same actions.
Such a map can help readers identify organisations involved in protest activity and understand how they may be connected. The list is presented as ongoing, so its contents and groupings may change.