I don't think France is the Canary in the Coal mine. French people are not afraid to get out and protest. Taxes are going up all across Europe and the standard of living is going down, whilst their cultural heritage dissappears.
We are all living in an induced state of 'false comfort', a facade that everything is ok. In reality, a large percentage of people live in poverty and struggle with little or no disposable income.
They see and pay their taxes with little or no return in public services.
Most of the Western countries have sqaundered their wealth with war.
The MSM will villify the protestors, the trouble-making 'instigators' will make sure there is violence, but at the end of the day........
Nothing will change.