Part 3/16:
This system was designed as a unifying force, transcending ideological divisions. It symbolized the collective bond known as fraternité, turning it into a legal obligation and pooling national resources to ensure no citizen was left behind. Leftists hailed it as a victory for social justice; conservatives embraced it as a cornerstone of national cohesion. The welfare state became more than social policy—it was a defining element of French republican identity, an unbreakable symbol of solidarity that’s intertwined with France’s self-image.