Will France become great again?

I mean, what it has, in terms of assets, and history, says to me greatness.
It has seemingly, in recent history, been in a malaise, and it's people are reputedly quite despondent in this regard.

But there is no doubting it's pedigree beyond the current moment, it's history, thinkers, and innovation.

Will France rise again?

Could Frexit begin this process?

Reply 1

TheAlphaParticle

Never have I ever taken Britain for granted since visiting France. It feels so unsafe there honestly.

Reply 2

SaucissonSecCy

Original post by TheAlphaParticle

Never have I ever taken Britain for granted since visiting France. It feels so unsafe there honestly.

Are you talking big city 'banlieue'? And when did you go?

I've always loved it but then I guess I was in safe bits.

Reply 3

999tigger

When in history was it great? Wasnt that based on military might and occupying other countries? In that respect its time has passed.
In economic terms its probably going to stay more or less where it is.

I havent noticed it wanting to invade anywhere?
I cnat see Frexit would be of any help as it is more involved in the European project than most.

So no, no and no.

Reply 4

wolfmoon88

I do not think France can rise again in terms of political and economic power... however French culture can make a comeback :tongue:

Reply 5

SaucissonSecCy

Original post by wolfmoon88

I do not think France can rise again in terms of political and economic power... however French culture can make a comeback :tongue:

I kind of meant in terms of culture, lifestyle, innovation not only in commerce, design but also in unique ideas and implementation of running a society and way of life.

Culture, intellectualism, way of life, and going it's own way and having a real draw for people who that appeals, obviously a very different type than would want to go to America, in my vision of it.

Reply 6

Reality Check

It's unwise to generalise about a country as big and diverse as France. I agree that it does feel 'on edge', certainly in Paris. But out in the sticks (or certainly in the Loire and Dordogne), I get the feeling that life is going on as normal. There are tensions in the cities, though.

As for whether France will become 'great again', I'm not even sure what that means. Define 'great'!

Reply 7

wolfmoon88

Original post by SaucissonSecCy

Honestly, the French way of life is rather appealing in many ways. The classical sort of blase attitude to everything and the sort of haughty holier-than-thou attitude about everything French. The French language also has it's romantic and appealing parts as well.

Yeah like you said, different people will be attracted to different ideas, lifestyles, cultures... however America has definitely been more successful in so-called cultural imperialism in the last century or so :tongue:

Reply 8

CookieButter

I visited Paris a few years ago. I died from boredom but i was just blown away by its beauty. London doesn't even compare. ....France has always been a greatly boring but beautiful country.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 9

SaucissonSecCy

Original post by CookieButter

I visited Paris a few years ago. I died from boredom but i was just blown away by its beauty. London doesn't even compare. ....France has always been a greatly boring but beautiful country.

You see, I've always felt that, that it was way more beautiful and inspiring than London like that. I have heard people say it's boring, London's more exciting, I suppose it just depends what you like, but I'm mystified people find it boring, especially English people. Maybe I'm boring but I'm not really bothered about clubs or anything, and I find in other ways, just walking round, Paris is amazing. I can literally just walk round it indefinitely and not get bored. I think it's the anglo-saxons who find it boring.

Curious why you found it boring though? Is it an anglo-saxon thing of wanting more clubs, getting pissed, banter, etc?

See maybe I'm totally wrong, but I just get the feeling southern Europeans don't live that culture, and it seems like the French would rather enjoy meals, and they have a lot more sex. It also sees they are more intellectual- maybe that's why anglo-saxon protestant peoples like it less?

I dunno, I feel at odds with England anyhow, it's weird but I think I like France better.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 10

SaucissonSecCy

Original post by wolfmoon88

I don't know if a parochial, superior French attitude would be tolerable, especially as how British intellectuals/leftists love them for it and simultaneously hate the British would for such sentiments. I instinctively feel Britain and London is more adaptable, and open to connectedness to the world, but I also feel there is something more appealing and interesting about the native French culture than ours.

Reply 11

PTMalewski

Original post by SaucissonSecCy

.

But there is no doubting it's pedigree beyond the current moment, it's history, thinkers, and innovation.

And beyond counting all succeses of human kind as French.

Reply 12

#ChaosKass

If the Front National get in, then there's definitely a good chance. If they don't, then it'll just sink deeper and deeper into Islamification.

Reply 13

CookieButter

Original post by SaucissonSecCy

I went with my wife. She loved it. It was very glamorous. Its very different to London and the UK. Most people, most men walked around with suits and women dressed really elegant. The sites were breath taking. I mean, here in london everything's bronze. In Paris most all statues you come across on the streets in most sites were gold...actual gold. The streets were huge and clean and tidy and everything was a lot more elegant and rich than it is here in the UK...if you get what I mean....I don't do clubbing or anything like that either. We did a lot of site seeing, walked around a lot, visited the Eiffel tower, a couple of museums and art galleries and parks and we did a ton of shopping...I couldn't stand more than the three days we were there...

I am a strong believer in people making or breaking tourism in a country. If the people are nice tourism is enjoyable and fun. If the people are depressing, no matter how beautiful the country it just becomes off putting and boring...best example i can give of this is the USA, beautiful country. France is kind of like that.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 14

NJA

Not quite France, but this article is another example of people feeling they are losers to "globalisation".

“We are fed up all the time with people asking for solutions to their problems and the only answer we have is ‘It’s Brussels.’
You have this feeling of being totally powerless which is not good.”

Reply 15

Ruth200

France participated to the constructioon of european union, i dont really think a frexit will happen except maybe if Mařine le pen win in 2017. i m living.in france at the moment and i dont think she will be elected because of the history of her party.

Reply 16

Trinculo

Their history is something of a caricature of the aspirations of the left today.

Feel oppressed? Take from the wealthy by force and violence, murder everyone who stands in your way.

Then....happily go along with a bloke who makes himself emperor and makes you losers forever.

Call yourselves socialists and progressive, but in reality are as greedy and discriminatory as the capitalists you purport to despise.