Globalization explained to the French

In this Figaro article [fr], Philippe Gordon tries to understand why the French are so much against economic globalization. He analyzes three main reasons that explain the French attitude:

1. Globalization threatens the French political and economical tradition towards a strong national governance and State. Our Governmental expenses continue to represent 54% of our GDP, a number way above that of most of industrialized Countries

2. The French are scared by the erosion of their culture and identity from the effects of globalization, that most of the French understand as "the American model"

3. Globalization threatens Equality, one of the founding principles of French Republic. Philippe Gordon insists on the strong social differences created by the American model, more individualistic. The French would rather protect Equality at the cost of a high unemployment rate and a lower level of living.

Our Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, has even invented a concept in the last few weeks, the "Patriotisme Economique" to reassure the French and protect our champions. If I believe this concept is an illusion, I agree with Philippe Gordon on the fact that most of our French Champions are not really French anyway: Danone has most of its employees working outside of France and the company makes 70% of its profits outside of France.

The World is a village and the only way French culture and identity can be preserved is by focusing on the future rather than the past, by helping create World recognized leaders in all fields, business, arts, music and politics. As most of my international friends point out often when I meet them, France is slowly turning into a museum where foreigners like to come for holidays for our Culture, our way of life and our food...

We have to stop complaining about globalization and focus on the future rather than protecting our past and our comfort.