Pave: Mr. Big Stuff, Who Do You Think You Are?

Le jour 116 de Sarko

France, a super special squarish semi-state in the EU mishmash -- France is both too arrogant and too feeble to get along in the world. These, anyway, are two findings in a recent report (Rapport pour le President de la Republique sur la France et la mondialisation) authored by Socialist Hubert Védrine, the once and not-to-be future foreign minister.

FRANCE NEEDS MORE MODESTY, PRESIDENTIAL REPORT SAYS

PARIS September 5, 2007 (Reuters) - Much of the world thinks France is arrogant, and its leaders could do with a dose of modesty rather than lecturing other countries on human rights, a report commissioned by President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday.

Hubert Védrine:

As surprising as it may seem, while our country is emerging from a long period of self-doubt, and it has under-estimated itself as a 'medium' power, it continues to be perceived as 'arrogant' in much of the world. [p. 45]

M. Védrine's "surprise" clues us to the very arrogance he decries.

M. Védrine:

Do we constantly have to say that France is the 'home of human rights'? Historically, Britain and the United States could claim that title just as much. ... More modesty would be more in line with reality and would not weaken our concrete efforts in favor of human rights. ... Between an excess of pretentiousness and an excess of self-underestimation, we have been thorough [sic] extremes that handicap us. It is time to find our balance. [pp.45-46]

To be sure, the 63-page report is also replete with baroque Védrinism.

SARKOZY AIDE SAYS FRANCE MUST MAINTAIN ITS INDEPENDENCE

PARIS September 5, 2007 (IHT) - Hubert Védrine, a former Socialist foreign minister, warned against succumbing to what he calls an "Atlanticist and West-focused temptation" that, among other things, would see France return to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization four decades after President Charles de Gaulle took it out [p. 37].

Instead, Paris should maintain its independence and remain faithful to traditional diplomatic priorities, such as fostering close ties in Africa and the Arab world. While urging independence from Washington, Védrine also said France should not become too "Europeanist" either. "In that sense," he said in a telephone interview, "I'm more American than European: They think for themselves."

... Despite the growth in global threats and challenges, Védrine writes that the nation-state remains important in foreign and economic affairs. His report lists several reasons why the French have a negative view of globalization, including "a persistent moral repugnance against the market economy." [- une répugnance morale persistante envers l'économie de marché et son moteur,
le profit, but also this: - la jalousie envers ce qui est perçu comme une américanisation (- jealousy toward what is perceived as Americanization), pp. 4-5]

M. Védrine, interview:

What is specific to France is the lack of confidence people have in their ability to cope with globalization.

The only way to give people back that confidence is to "protect" them, Védrine writes, proposing "much more offensive regulation" [p. 26] and social policies to cushion the impact of globalization on every-day lives. He also says France has a right to protect strategic sectors of industry.

Try as he might to be something new, M. Védrine is strictly old school. He cannot think himself out of pet policies and predilected postures. Throughout the report M. Védrine cannot escape two bitter realities. France is not a player as a thing apart, she must either be a reliable ally or she will remain an opportunistic schemer, a geopolitical scavenger. And perhaps the bitterest reality, French institutionalized anti-Americanism is deleterious to French interests.

PFFT (What is this?): Frankreich über alles 5 | Mr. Big Stuff ¾ | Rayonnement français 0