003uFrance Political CulturePlus

FRANCE Political Culture, Political Recruitment and Political Socialization

SOME RELEVANT HISTORYOne of the oldest nation-states of EuropeFrench Revolution began with the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1791 (the First Republic)Three more constitutionsNapoleonRestoration of BourbonsHouse of OrleansParis Revolution in 1848

MORE: THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVESecond Republic (1848-1852)Universal male suffrageNapoleon IIIFranco Prussian WarThird Republic (1871)WWII deeply divided FranceCharles de GaulleFourth Republic (1946-1958)24 governments in 12 yearsFifth Republic (1958 onward)

POLITICAL CULTURE: CONCEPTUAL REVIEW Public attitudes toward politics and their role in the political systemParochialSubjectPartipatory

Levels of political cultureSystemProcessPolicy

FRENCH POLITICAL CULTURE: THEMESEnlightened monarchs allowed relatively free through as long as it remained abstractConcept of being FrenchunitesSpecifics of what that means dividesBurden of history Versailles

SHAPE OF POLITICAL TRUSTConflicting orientations arising from valuation of individualism and equalityParticipation in politics initially seen as means of weakening strong government Assertion of individualism sometimes led to anarchy

RELIGIOUS AND ANTI-RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Roman Catholics vs. Huguenots Anti-clerical sub-cultureChurch teaching less authoritative in Catholic sub-culture

OTHER RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS ANTIRELIGIOUS TRADITIONSFrench Jews de-christianized & secular culture Revolution of 1789 Impact of World War II Muslims New immigation

DEFENSE AGAINST ANARCHYPlace individuals who reflected he popular will in powerIndividuals who reflect popular will use government to bring about equalityAllows for the accommodation to large role for the bureaucracy

HISTORY AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGESudden change rather than gradual mutation have dominated critical moments in French history Leads to conclusion that no change can be brought about except by major upheaval Lead to skepticism about the possibility of meaningful change

BETWEEN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE FIFTH REPUBLIC RULES OF THE POLITICAL REGIME IN FRANCE WERE SATISFACTORY TO ONLY ONE SEGMENT OF THE POLITY - AND HOTLY CONTESTED BY OTHERS

FIFTH REPUBLIC Early years political culture resembled the situation that prevailed between 1789 and 1958Election of Francois Mitterrand to presidency (1981) aid to rest two hundred years of hostility among French political elitesAttitudes and orientations of masses followed developments among the elites

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION: FAMILYTraditionally conservativeModifications to traditional patriarchal structureAssociations as tools of political socializations

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION: EDUCATIONHistoric importance of baccalauret and lyceeChanges in the Fifth Republic700,000 graduates in 19456.1 million in1994Universities48% in higher education during 1990s Comparable to rest of W. Europe

GRANDES ECOLE

Functions outside of regular system of universitiesHighly selective- no increase in enrollment Training ground of highly specialized elites

SOCIALIZATION AND MASS COMMUNICATION: PRINT MEDIAFor much of 20th century major newspapers were in the hands of business tycoons or political partiesCurrently: most papers owned by business conglomerates

TELEVISION State ownership from 1945 1981Television and radio opened to private sector in 1982 - a project of the Socialists State television forced to provide the opposition with time to reply to the governmentOnly two of six non-cable channels owned by government

ELITE POLITICAL RECRUITMENT Grandes coleshigher education establishments outside the mainstream framework of the public universities system.selection criteria of grandes coles rests mainly on competitive written and oral exams Fifth Republic more senior civil servants from the professionals class than during the Fourth Republic

GRANDES COLES CORPS Recruited from Ecole Nationale dAdministration & Ecole PolytechniqueElite political class numbers less than 20, 000Grand Corps now important in recruitment of business elites

cole Nationale d'administration created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratize access to the senior civil service.

IMPORTANCE OF GENDERLow representation of women among French political elitesPolitical advancement requires deep investment in partiesSegolene RoyalGraduate of the ENAMember of the Council of StateDearth of womens representation recognized but not addressed

OUTSIDERS HAVE EXTREME DIFFICULTY IN PENETRATING THE FRENCH POLITICAL AND BUSINESS ELITE

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