French complex

France believes in most things French based upon a superiority complex which has its roots in history. France cultivated a national image to define itself.  From the “French economic model” to national identity.  From the medieval times until the twentieth century France was a warlike nation (perceived by others as they were involved in countless wars even one sets aside the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars (Keiger; 2001; 20).  French revolution and wars combined with “cultural obsessions and periodic events” built French psyche of belonging to the nation (Keiger; 2001; 20).  French considered themselves the warlike nation out there fighting for the oppressed (and being oppressed themselves) has been reinforced in the past by the likes of Charles de Gaulle and in cartoons strips like Asterix the Gaul thus creating a powerful self image (Kieger; 2001; 20).

From an international relations perspective there was an overwhelming emphasis on greatness which had been built on political and cultural hegemony during the seventeenth and eighteenth century (Keiger; 2001;17).  The greatness had started in theory during the Revolution.  Even General de Gaulle described France in War Memoirs (referring to 1940) as “…France cannot be France without greatness”,  The starting point had been the French civilisation which had entrenched the revolution was universal.  French believed that the French revolution was the “standard-bearer” of political progress and had the right ideals of “liberty, fraternity and equality” which needed to be established at home first and then Europe and elsewhere (Keiger; 2001; 18).  This marked a turning point for the French nation and General de Gaulle conceptualises this French psyche in his New Year Eve radio message in 1967 “Our action aims to to attain linked objectives , and which, because they are French, respond to the interests of mankind” (Keiger; 2001; 19).  Attitude like this took France to war in Algeria which even now brings out emotions in people in both countries and relations between it’s Muslim population has never truly been normal.

France has truly based most of its identity based on “mythology and psychoanalysis than with political science” (Kieger; 2001; 19).  France public diplomacy has been wrapped in its international identity and personality of that being the “purveyor of universalist values and of culture through the medium of the French language” (Keiger; 2001; 21).  Institut français

France believed it to be the country of rationality and clarity and this image has been cultivated around the notion of French classicism in the eighteenth century (Keiger; 2001; 21).  Whilst Europe (Counter-Reformation Europe) was enjoying and basking in the Baroque form, France rigorously pursued classicism to “tame imagination and passion” and turn them into a purer form (Keiger; 2001; 22).  This emphasis on form over content in everything in French society is the opposite of Anglo Saxon model which is “pragmatic” in nature and preoccupied with content over form.  French like to codify everything where there is no room for flexibility as they only have faith in what is written. There is a reason UK seems to have more influence in the world than France, British Council is popular and exists in many parts of the world.

The emphasis on form over content and belief in the French revolution  being universal took France to war many times.  Somehow the French outlook and psyche built up since the Revolution complicates life for French citizens of Muslim heritage where integration has not been so easy leaving many parts of demographic disenchanted.

The obsession with Frenchness has creates a clash on the international state.  This was all too visible recently when France and Britain over changing the Union’s treaty (BBC News online; 2012), obsession with the French model of codifying everything  where the written means everything and the Anglo Saxon way of  ‘My word is my bond’ (Keiger; 2001; 22).  It definitely makes me unpopular in the international arena making public diplomacy harder thus reducing their influence.

Bibliography

BBC News – David Cameron clashes with France’s Sarkozy over euro. 2012. BBC News – David Cameron clashes with France’s Sarkozy over euro. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15425139. [Accessed 13 April 2012]

Keiger, J.F.V; 2001. France and the World since 1870                             (International Relations and the Great Powers). Bloomsbury USA.

La battaglia di Algeri (The Battle of Algiers), 1966. [DVD] Gillo Pontecorvo, Algeria: Rialto Pictures.

The Battle of Algiers – New York Movie Review. 2012. The Battle of Algiers – New York Movie Review. [ONLINE] Available at: http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/n_9697/. [Accessed 11 April 2012].