Part 2/16:
The roots of France’s welfare system trace back to the tumultuous aftermath of World War II. In 1945, France was a fractured, ravaged nation. Millions had lost loved ones, with cities in ruins, and the trust in institutions had evaporated. To rebuild both physically and psychologically, the French government enacted sweeping reforms in October 1945, establishing social security—an unequivocal commitment to universal healthcare, pensions, unemployment protections, and social benefits.