← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · xmetalhead
Thread ID: 20610 | Posts: 9 | Started: 2005-10-11
2005-10-11 15:01 | User Profile
[I]Oui, je suis un Fracophile... Count me amongst the 37% of other Americans who think like me. But apparently a majority of other people around the world feel the same. C'est tres bien que le monde aime la France![/I]
[SIZE=4][COLOR=Navy]On world stage, France's role is audience favorite[/COLOR][/SIZE]
By Peter Ford | Staff writer of [URL=http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0930/p01s04-woeu.html]The Christian Science Monitor[/URL]
[IMG]http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0930/csmimg/p5b.gif[/IMG]
PARIS ââ¬â Karen Hughes should be French - it would make her job easier.
As the US undersecretary of State for public diplomacy returns home from her first foreign trip burnishing America's image in the world, she might feel a touch of envy at the glowing international reputation that France enjoys, highlighted in a recent study by the Project on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA).
In the survey of people in 23 countries across the globe, a majority or plurality in 20 described France as exerting a positive influence on world affairs. The US, by comparison, is seen as having a negative impact by majorities in 15 countries.
"France is seen as a countervoice to the US," says Steven Kull, director of PIPA. "It becomes a rallying point for all those who don't want to follow America's lead."
Certainly, Paris appeals in part precisely because it is not Washington. But it goes beyond that. From the streets of Shanghai to Berlin, Monitor interviews found that the French flair for the finer things in life has a special cachet.
French movies are admired worldwide for their subtlety and depth; French fashion houses dress the rich and powerful worldwide; and the lure of French art and cuisine fascinated foreigners long before Paris stood up to Washington politically.
"We [Germans] look on with wonder at France's cultural influence in the world," says Henrik Utterwede, deputy director of the German-French Institute in Ludwigsburg. "And we are a bit jealous of it, as well."
On top of that, says former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, France is so admired because "many people think France is a country that tries to correct the imbalances of today's world, such as the excessive power of the United States."
Or, put another way, "The French willingness to stand up and be a rooster, to take a stand and get up someone's nose, is a big strength," says Doug Miller, head of GlobeScan, the international polling firm that carried out the survey with the University of Maryland's PIPA.
France's global popularity - except in America, the only country where a majority of respondents called French influence negative - "is really a question of image," cautions Alain Frachon, editor of "Le Monde 2," a weekly magazine. "France does not weigh very heavily in international affairs," he argues, "and it does not set a very great example" as a major arms exporter, a not especially generous donor to developing nations, and a defender of outmoded economic policies.
Most people, however, "do not follow foreign policy very closely, and these things come down to a few images and symbols," points out Mr. Vedrine.
The most symbolic recent moment came in the buildup to the Iraq war, which France vehemently and vocally opposed. "The very, very strong position that France took on the side of global public opinion explains the figures" in the poll, says Mr. Miller.
"France was speaking for the world; [French president Jacques] Chirac stood up and that's what leadership is," Miller adds.
The symbolism had practical effects, suggests Mr. Utterwede. For years, Germany resisted French efforts to enlist it as a counterweight to Washington. But some of France's fierce individuality has rubbed off on Berlin, says Utterwede. "There is this idea of friendship [with Washington], yes; obedience, no. There is a sense of emancipation in German foreign policy that can almost be considered 'Francophonization.' "
France's stand had effects on the other side of the Atlantic, too, where Americans expressed their anger or their disappointment by ordering "Freedom Fries." It became cool to dislike the French (52 percent of Americans believe French international influence is negative), especially because many felt the French owed America gratitude for liberating them from the Nazis and then defending them against the Soviets.
"France has become popular merely by defining itself in opposition to the United States under the Bush administration," critiques Jacquelyn K. Davis, executive vice president of the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis in Washington. "The French are attempting to jealously guard their remaining power and influence by criticizing and tearing down US policies."
Not that such perceived disloyalty is new. "France has been cultivating its discordant voice since [former French president Charles] de Gaulle argued that we did not have to line up behind one or other of the superpowers," recalls Mr. Frachon.
As the first Western nation to recognize Communist China, France won a special place in Chinese hearts (72 percent of Chinese respondents saw French influence as positive).
Beijing also warms to French policies, such as its failed crusade earlier this year to end a 16-year-old EU ban on arms sales to China, and its support for China's push to unify with Taiwan.
For ordinary Chinese, however, the Parisian pull appears to be more cultural. "Well-educated people in Beijing like French films more than American films now," says Wang Qing, a specialist in French cultural exchanges for the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. "In French films we can see something more sophisticated."
Asked why the Chinese liked France, Wang Li, a woman in Shanghai, replied simply, "The French have money and good culture."
That impression has no doubt been boosted by the "French Culture Year" that recently featured more than 300 art, dance, and musical events around China. But that's small potatoes compared to the 60 years of French efforts to promote their relationship with neighboring Germany after fighting three wars in 70 years.
Those efforts have paid off. The hundreds of thousands of community, school, business, and cultural partnerships that have sprung up on both sides of the Rhine since the end of World War II have helped convince 77 percent of Germans that France plays a positive role in the world, according to the PIPA study.
German respect for French culture is deep. "They have a special feeling for design and art that makes them highly influential in the world," says Anete Bajrami, a newly qualified architect.
On the other side of the world, similar feelings inspire Stanley Peskin, owner of an independent video store in the comfortable Parktown North neighborhood of Johannesburg, South Africa.
"It has got the best ballet company in the whole world and some of the great film directors and novelists," enthuses Mr. Peskin. "The French have been fantastic."
While few of the people questioned in a brief survey of Johannesburg residents this week mentioned politics, their generally positive views of French design, culture, and food supported the survey's conclusion that 69 percent of South Africans consider France a welcome influence.
The South African government's interest in France should be seen in the context of Pretoria's relationship with the European Union, says Prince Mashele, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, a think tank in the capital.
"France is a key player within the European Union. South Africa has trade agreements with the European Union," Mr. Mashele explains. "It makes sense to maintain good relations with key players."
France's European identity is central to its popularity, suggests Dr. Kull, of PIPA. "France is most associated with the European Union, which has an even more positive rating than France," he says. "The EU is seen as using soft power and diplomacy, drawing other countries towards it, while the US uses more hard power and direct pressure, imposing its will."
Though France is still a medium world power, with a UN Security Council seat, a nuclear weapon and a worldwide network of alliances, says Vedrine, "and though France is often pretentious and grandiloquent, she is not threatening."
Paris could do more to build on its advantages, he adds, "listening more and seeking compromise. We could use our trump cards better."
GlobeScan's Miller also thinks France should be looking to the future. "Country branding is becoming a vital part of the economic future," he argues. "France clearly has a big advantage to grow from, but if they are not trying to take advantage of that they do so at their own risk and peril."
The trouble, says Vedrine, is that "our economic and social model is not working so well, and that will reduce our influence in the future.
"For the time being, though", he adds, "France still enjoys a gigantic power of attraction."
[I]ââ¬Â¢ Kathleen McLaughlin in Shanghai, Andreas Tzortzis in Berlin, Stephanie Hanes in Johannesburg, and Nathaniel Hoopes in Boston contributed to this story.[/I]
2005-10-11 15:25 | User Profile
Let's keep in mind that 'world opinion' also lauds Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Mandela and Kofi Annan.
Nevertheless, I think it's significant to note that more Frenchmen admire the States than Americans admire France. Purely anecdotal I realize, but I deal with many Europeans in business and almost to a man they tell me that Europe is dead or dying, the taxes and bureacracy are choking the life out of the people and folks there completely trust the government and do whatever it tells them to. They all admire American ingenuity and 'can-do' initiative as opposed to simply looking for the government to fix things and/or give a handout, as well as the remaining financial freedoms and health care we still enjoy in this former Republic.
2005-10-11 15:28 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Texas Dissident]...... the taxes and bureacracy are choking the life out of the people and folks there completely trust the government and do whatever it tells them to.... [/QUOTE]
Not for nothing, Tex, but for a second I thought you were talking about America there.
2005-10-11 15:42 | User Profile
[QUOTE=xmetalhead]Not for nothing, Tex, but for a second I thought you were talking about America there.[/QUOTE]
Definitely x, I know that's what we think over here, but we just don't have the perspective they do living over there. A couple of weeks ago I had a long conversation with a Dutchman and I could not believe the taxes and such that businesses had to pay to employ people. It's horrible here, sure, but it could definitely be worse. Just ask an European. There's a reason they come to Houston for health care, for one example.
But don't get me wrong, I'm pro-European (well, really more pro-English), but when talking to them I invariably get the sense that I'm much more pro-european than they themselves are. Go figure.
2005-10-11 16:14 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Texas Dissident]Definitely x, I know that's what we think over here, but we just don't have the perspective they do living over there. A couple of weeks ago I had a long conversation with a Dutchman and I could not believe the taxes and such that businesses had to pay to employ people. It's horrible here, sure, but it could definitely be worse. Just ask an European. There's a reason they come to Houston for health care, for one example.
But don't get me wrong, I'm pro-European (well, really more pro-English), but when talking to them I invariably get the sense that I'm much more pro-european than they themselves are. Go figure.[/QUOTE]
Tex, I hear you. I've had similiar conversations with some of my customers in Europe. One customer in France tells me that her compatriots are always complaining about one thing or another. How ironic for me to hear that.
I guess, "the grass is always greener on the other side" rings true yet again.
2005-10-11 20:10 | User Profile
When it comes to domestic policies the US definitely has its faults, but in many ways Europe is worse. The very worst aspect of Europe IMO is the generally strict gun control there. Disarmed citizens are slaves -- hands down. Not much better are the obscene restrictions on speech in nations like France and Germany, where you can go to prison for saying the wrong thing. And as Tex pointed out, taxes are even worse in Europe than they are in the US, which is saying a lot.
On the other hand, the above poll seems to have focused on peoples' attitudes toward the foreign influence of nations on other nations. That's where the US is the real loser. For one thing, we have a highly belligerent, Zionist-driven foreign policy that is viewed with disgust not only around the world, but also by Americans who have a clue.
France's stand had effects on the other side of the Atlantic, too, where Americans expressed their anger or their disappointment by ordering "Freedom Fries." Most Americans haven't got a glimmer of a notion about freedom. They think they're free because they have the right to cast votes for Republicans or Democrats. Blithering imbeciles.
It became cool to dislike the French (52 percent of Americans believe French international influence is negative), especially because many felt the French owed America gratitude for liberating them from the Nazis and then defending them against the Soviets. All those drooling Rush Limbaugh fans who referred to the French as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys" obviously haven't heard of the French Resistance of WWII. They also probably didn't know that the French helped the colonists during the American Revolution.
Realistically, of course, the French of today are not responsible for any good or ill acts of the French of yesterday, just as whites today are not responsible for black slavery. But even if France did owe us a favor, that would NOT obligate them to engage in activity they believed to be immoral as repayment. If I owe my buddy a favor, that doesn't mean I'm obligated to help him rob an old woman just because he asks me to. France was absolutely correct in their assessment of the Iraq situation, and for that they deserve respect. As for the majority of Americans, they've brought disgrace on their nation by slurping up all the lies and crap dished out by Bush and his neocons.
2005-10-11 20:40 | User Profile
They didn't ask the French if they admired France and they didn't ask Americans if they admire America?
The question is of global influence. To many people, that means Israel and the Iraq war.
2005-10-11 23:41 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Angler]When it comes to domestic policies the US definitely has its faults, but in many ways Europe is worse. The very worst aspect of Europe IMO is the generally strict gun control there. Disarmed citizens are slaves -- hands down. The situation re: gun control in Europe is complicated. In Switzerland, male citizens are required to own automatic weapons. At the same time, this ownership is licensed and well-regulated. In most other European countries, gun control laws are pretty harsh. On paper. Yet it is commonplace for politicians, the wealthy, etc. to have security guards - even private militias - that are armed to the teeth. And European police are often very well armed - machine guns, high-powered sniper rifles, attack helicopters, you name it. And of course, Euro militaries love their armaments.
In many ways, I think this is a holdover from feudal elitism. Expertism, if you will: swords are for well-trained knights who have the king's blessing, not for the rabble. So the same with guns today. Just as money could often buy a knighthood, Europeans with big money can buy any guns they want. No matter what caliber! As they say, money talks.
And of course, just like in America, all sorts of people simply break the rules. In Europe, just like here, there are gangsters and so on with damned near every conceivable type of gun.
By the way, with regard to that "Do-It-Yourself Submachinegun" book I have mentioned. It was written by G[size=-1]é[/size]rard M[size=-1]é[/size]tral, a Frenchman. In the book, there is a picture of his daughter in her car, sporting one of the guns with a smile on her face.
2005-10-12 02:06 | User Profile
Hey I noticed the Mexicans prefer France to the US, let's start sending them over there!
After reading the post about it being required that all males in Switzerland have an automatic weapon it got me to thinking: If the second amendment were interpreted the same way as the first amendment, then gun ownership in this country would be required.