The French Republic. France Demographics 3rd largest country in Europe after Russia and Ukraine 2X the size of Great Britain, yet only 4/5 of Texas.

The French Republic

France Demographics3rd largest country in Europe after Russia and Ukraine2X the size of Great Britain, yet only 4/5 of TexasPopulation: 64,000,000 (2009 est.) with 0.55% growth rateGDP: $33,000 per capita, $2.6 Trillion overallLife expectancy: 77.8/84/overall 81Literacy 99%85% of population is nominally Catholic (2% Protestant, 1%

Jew, 8% Muslim, 2% No affiliation1/4-1/3 live around ParisDirigisme--state interferes in political, cultural affairs.French bureaucracy a stabilizing factor; higher civil service

members come from technical schools (ENArchues like Ecole Nationale d’ Administration. Educational system sorts people. French claim there are no lobbyists or “interested members” lobbying.

Unemployment 12%, rising crimeEager to promote EU expansion, integration

French HistoryBefore 1789 France was a monarchy1789: French Revolution1815: Defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, formation of Concert of

Europe at Congress of Vienna1848: Universal male suffrage after revolution1870-71: Franco-Prussian War1940-44: Vichy Regime1946-58: 4th Republic. Legislative branch had too much power,

wasn’t efficient. Proportional representation. Electoral system allowed for a large # of parties that didn’t work together. DeGaulle asked to help w/gov’t and prevent split with Algeria.

1958: 5th Republic formed, DeGaulle elected, Strengthened executive, gave Algeria independence

1962: Referendum on direct election of President, passed1968: Events of May/June: student/worker protests1969: De Gaulle retires, Pompidou becomes President1981: Mitterrand elected, reelected 19881995: Chirac elected, re-elected 2002 (first simultaneous election)2004: ban on “conspicuous” religious symbols in schools

(headscarves)2007: Sarkozy defeats Royal for Presidency

The Mixed French SystemVoters in France vote 2 ways:Nationally for PresidentRegionally for National Assembly membersDual Executive system: President and PM2 ballot system for President. Two weeks apart, on

Sunday. No need for 2nd ballot if a candidate gets 50% on 1st ballot. In Presidential election, only top 2 candidates advance to 2nd ballot

2002: Chirac 20% LePen 17% Jospin 16%French politicians may retain administrative local

positions, but if elected to cabinet must resign their seat. 50% of NA “double-dips”

The French Electoral System

Primarily single member district representation

Any # of candidates can run on the first ballot. If a candidate wins an absolute majority, he wins seat in Parliament

If not, 2nd ballot 1 week later. Any candidate with 12.5% of the vote may run again.

Lots of coalition building and deal cuttingPartisan politics shows up particularly at 2nd

level

The French Parliament

National Assembly (577)

Deputies directly elected for 5 year terms

Must authorize declaration of war If Parliament is unhappy with

Prime Minister or if Parliament has a problem (lack of leadership), PM can be subjected to a “vote of confidence.” 10% required to put on agenda, 2 day cooling off period. If vote is against gov’t, it must resign. Voted 40 times since 1958, successful once in 1962. (DeGaulle dissolved Parliament and reappointed Georges Pompidou)

Debates in subcommittee hearings are not as important as in the US

Constitutional Council determines the Constitutionality of laws

Senate (274)

Senators elected for 9 yr terms

Electoral college of NA and 100,000 regional representatives

“Voice of rural France”

Staggered terms; 1/3 up for reelection every 3 yrs

Expected to agree with NA, NA can override Senate on urgent matters

The French President

Currently Nicholas Sarkozy (elected 5/07)Serves a fixed 7-year term, no term maximum (5/w

amendmentNames PM (not a real power)Presides over the cabinetCommands armed forcesConcludes treatiesSubmits issues to national referendum (1950s: French

withdrawal from Algeria)Can dissolve National Assembly (except in 1st yr. Of new

assembly). 1983 poll—58% favor this power. 5 times since 1958.

Subject to removal only if indicted by conventions of both houses for high treason.

Chirac “blunder” of 1997; thought if he waited to call elections, his party would sink…turned out he lost anyway to Socialists and Jospin. Cohabitation resulted…really a division of labor

Can proclaim “State of Emergency” and rule by decree (DeGaulle 1961 Algeria situation)

Francois Mitterand

Jacques Chirac

Nicolas Sarkozy

The French Prime MinisterCurrently Francois FillonHead of GovernmentDetermines government policyProposes bills, laws implemented through

bureaucracyFemale Prime Minister Edith Cresson lasted 10

months, 1991-92

Judiciary No judicial review Constitutional Council reviews

constitutionality of bills before they become law

French Political Parties

UMP (Union for a Popular Majority): center-right party currently in power.

RPP (Gaullist) “Movement for the Republic” formed 1958, named after DeGaulle. Conservatives but not quite as conservative as Republicans in the U.S.

Socialist (PS)--Liberal party. Attracted former PCF members, party of Mitterrand

National Front (FN)--led by Jean Marie Le Pen. Nationalistic, anti-immigration, extremely conservative. Xenophobic.

Union for French Democracy (UDF)--liberal democrats’ arm of conservative party

Coalition gov’t after winning ‘86 and ‘93 electionsSocialists are a success story in contemporary European

politics--unemployment brought them to powerMinor Parties: Communist Party (PCF), Green Party

French Political Culture

Stereotypes: French rude, love to argue politically, deeply divided hostile society with lots of strikes

DIRIGISME “Protest” political culture PANTOUFLAGE: “Putting on the glass slipper.” French politicians frequently

become “captains of industry” Higher voter turnout than rest of Europe Women received right to vote only in 1945 Parity Law: Constitutional amendment requires parties to run equal numbers of male and

female candidates in proportional elections Only 19% of National Assembly is female

2/3 of population (poll late 70s) support Presidency and think politicians care about commoners

Trustful of politicians; no one questions mixed system Believe in “right to have a job” Strong farmers’ union in FranceLocal government Appointed prefects controlled local government until 1981

Tutelle – extreme oversight of local decisions by French government

Some decentralization under Socialist governments Abolished Tutelle Elected departmental and regional council heads

3 most deeply divisive issues in France: Racism/illegal work, post-material cleavages (environment, education, women’s rights), European integration

EX: Maastricht Treaty (1991) 52% vote in FRA

French Political Culture: From Alienation to Consensus

Taming political protest Events of May 1968

Turning point in legitimizing Fifth Republic De Gaulle used a new power and dissolved the

National Assembly, ending the crisis Different from past protest movements:

Groups had common adversary in the state No one questioned legitimacy of the Fifth Republic,

but advocated policy changes

In 1971 Mitterand’s socialist party adopted platform of reforms

French Political Culture: From Alienation to Consensus

Taming political protest Neo-Socialists and Neo-Gaullists

Electoral success of Socialists in ’81 legitimized opposition

Transition to Socialist-led government legitimized regime

France: Foreign Policy

DeGaulle’s Policies (1958):French forces never integrated in NATO (now are)Never abandon nuclear weapons to int’l controlPlay an intermediary role between East and West

French foreign policy has fewer overlaps with American foreign policy than Britain

French invested $2 bil w/ Iran (natural gas/petroleum)

French are arms merchants, sold to IraqMaintains ties with colonies and the third world.

Why France is a 1st-Tier Power

Permanent member of UNSC with absolute vetoMember of NATO, disapprove of American dominance, trying

to get southern command relocated1 of 2 leading EU powers (Germany) Jacques de Loire basically set up EU and Maastricht Treaty--

single currency, single bank

Why French leadership in Europe?

National Pride It’s the best way for the French to control Germany

(by leading European integration)

French priorities:Keep Germany in checkExploit markets of developing countries (Iran,

Malaysia, Russian oil)

Learning ObjectivesAfter mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you

will be able to: Gain detailed knowledge of the history of the political

system, economic development and statehood formation of France.

Recognize the importance of French Revolution of 1789 on the formation of republican form of governance in France.

Understand the concept of ‘dual executive’ governance while analyzing the development of French political system.

Define civic culture and civil society and assess the importance of both in French political system.

Discuss the impact of the history and magnitude of mass and student protests on the development of political culture in contemporary France.

Learning ObjectivesDescribe the main developments in French political history Identify the political divisions that created stalemate before the Fifth

RepublicDescribe the changes the Fifth Republic’s constitution brought to the

French regime and political cultureDescribe the centralization of French government and politics Identify the parties and interest groups that play significant roles in

French politicsDescribe the general political positions of those parties and interest

groupsExplain the effects of proportional, plurality, and majority/second

round-ballot electoral systems have on parties and on the partisan make-up of legislatures

Define “integrated elite” and provide examples from French political culture

Explain the role of grandes ecoles in the integration of the eliteCompare the integration of elites in France with the integration of

elites in other countries studiedDescribe how economic policies have dominated French politics Identify the major policy issues facing the French government today

Learning Objectives Recognize the position of French voters on the European

Union development and further France’s integration into the EU.

Define the formation and the role of France’s National Assembly.

Describe French executive branch of government. Recognize the specification of French electoral system.

Comparatively analyze the electoral system in France while using few other countries for your comparison.

Understand the impact of privatization on economic and political development of the French state.

Forecast challenges and expected changes in France’s political system, economic development and political culture in light of the Nicolas Sarkozy’s political victory.