France, one of Europe’s most thriving economies, is taking on a rather unexpected route of protectionism and governed economy than the liberalization route as followed by other booming economies elsewhere. Even at a time when social factors are conducive, the aversion to globalization is quite illogical and was engineered as a result of recent series of acquisitions, mergers and similar capitalist activities where people sense that even their national identity is at risk. The outcry has now grown to a national movement and is being strongly voiced across international forums.
The excepting stand called for by the French owes mostly to the changed regimes of international treaties, the interference of which is not only limited to bilateral trade but also on social and cultural exclusion of a nation. The resistance to social and cultural invasions can amply be gauged from the meteoric rise of Jose Bowe (a sheep farmer who knocked down a McDonald’s outlet) to stardom. Most haunting globalization effect on the social front is felt on food and language where concerted efforts are now made to preserve regional culture and reject foreign intrusion. Some judgments by WTO in favor of the US have also enraged the French. The outburst of France against ‘Anglo-Saxon globalization’ shall also be seen as a political move in the wake of American hegemony which overwhelmed Gaullist-Mitterand approach to an internationally assertive role for the French and is portraying itself as the leader of the developing nations. The failed Multilateral Agreement on Investment in 1998 and the cancellation of Seattle meeting of WTO made the French to raise the issue of threat to the sovereignty of the state.
France is also apprehensive that globalization would also pave way for a shift from the traditional centralized governance to a more or less American format of self-reliance. Ever since Le Pen seeded the anti globalization movement in the 1980s, the issue has been gaining wide acceptability across the socio-political cult, which later is referred to as the revival of a cohesive ideology. Political parties are also forced to follow suit to ensure their sustenance in the changing public mood. The situation demands the polarization of conservative parties on two lines- (1) those who support globalization and European integration, and (2) those who do not. Many political defections and realignments were followed and it also resulted in the birth of new powerful groups. The Centrists and the UDF stood for globalization while RPF was formed as the protector of French Sovereignty. An ideological renewal is also felt on the left with the Socialist Party’s support for a controlled European Integration and Globalization.
While all these discontent rages against globalization, it is interesting to note that about 50% of France believes that globalization has facilitated economic growth. Another positive impact of globalization is its support to end corporate regime in agriculture. Since World War II, French agriculturists were united behind the FNSEA (Federation Nationale des Syndicats d’ Exploitants Agricoles) which had strong political backing and acted in a monopolistic manner. But the anti globalization campaign stemmed the sprouting of CP (Confederation Paysanne), a leftist organization which looked at the food tampering issue from a social perspective. Off late, there is a growing feel in France that European integration is the viable alternative to the ill effects of America led globalization. What was earlier perceived as forming financial interdependence and questioning on national sovereignty has now been accepted as a tool for preserving the same in the wake of globalization. The recent polls have shown evidence of growing support for European integration in France. The majority of new support group comprises women and private sector employees who were once staunch protestors of European Integration. In the European Union, France is strongly advocating for an intergovernmental design that would ensure more autonomy for sovereign states while safeguarding its foreign and security policies vis-à-vis America. Anyhow, France’s anti globalization voices are heard beyond the European Union and is finding takers even from Latin America and Asia-Pacific. The success and acceptance of France as a strong ally in anti globalization movement for like-minded nations lies in its capability to display genuine departures from the seemingly hypocritical approach presently being adopted about globalization (Meunier, 2000).
References
Meunier, S. 2000. The French Exception Foreign affairs Vol.79 No.4 (p.104-116).