The French have habitually made snide remarks about American provincialism for two centuries and at times on matters of geopolitics their complaints were warranted. The failure of America to support the League of Nations in the 1920’s or the efforts of Prime Minister Leon Blum in the mid-1930’s to rally countries against Nazi Germany left feelings of great bitterness and, in some sectors of French opinion, justified Daladier’s later resort to appeasement. The collaboration of large portions of French society with the Nazis during Vichy, the robotic loyalty of Maurice Thorez’s Communists to Stalin and French military ineptitude in Vietnam, Egypt and Algeria did little to inspire confidence in Washington. Most Americans though, generally retained a benign attitude toward France in the postwar years and despite periodic squabbles, Paris always remained a prime draw for Americans headed for Europe.
There has been a sea change in attitudes over here since the invasion of Iraq which I don’t think is either well-understood or appreciated in Paris. Nor is it likely to change soon. For the first time in my life I sense real hatred directed at France, not annoyance at an ally but a hardening sentiment at the grassroots level that France is no ally at all. It is not a universal opinion but while it is centered on the political Right attributing this Francophobia to a delusion of the Freepers would be a huge error. It exists across much of the political spectrum now, only among hard-core Democratic, Bush-haters and the far-Left is Chirac’s performance admired.
It was not so much Chirac’s opposition to American policies -if anything Gerhard Schroedrer’s position was even more inflexible and unreasonable but he caught little popular disdain here – but the form that Chirac’s opposition took, the visceral feel that carried through the media shocked many Americans who were not particularly conservative and not a few who were critical of President Bush. ” Freedom Fries” was a particularly idiotic reaction but it was also a sign that the average joe who didn’t care a whit for world politics was engaged and very angry. Chirac’s message misfired here about as poorly as George W. Bush’s did among European Social Democrats.
These feelings and the frequency of these anti-French remarks will die down if France and the United States have occasion to work together in a common cause in a mutually supportive and very public way. Failing some kind of important symbolic gesture by Paris, one directed at the American people rather than at official Washington, the cooling off period may take years.
UPDATE:
Bruce Kesler asked that I post the following comment as the excerpt above had been directed at his post.( Note: The link in this excerpt is mine though the quote is Mr. Kesler’s):
“Which part of the UN report released today documenting Frances’s politicians and companies as the most active corrupters in Saddam’s oil-for-bribes scam does Collounsbury consider “simple-minded anti-French tripe”? His comment is simple-minded French tripe, a childish denial of the broken vase at his feet, rather outdated from a supposedly grown person. –Make all the excuses imagined, and the facts still remain that France has been usually more trouble, and antagonist, or useless, than ally.”
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Dan tdaxp:
October 28th, 2005 at 5:19 am
It is not a universal opinion but while it is centered on the political Right attributing this Francophobia to a delusion of the Freepers would be a huge error. It exists across much of the political spectrum now, only among hard-core Democratic, Bush-haters and the far-Left is Chirac’s performance admired.
True. France seems to be the only state that Big Cheese is angrier at than the United States. Similar feelings by a liberal Republican (but freeper by comparison to Big Cheese) prof at my last university.
Dan tdaxp
Curtis Gale Weeks:
October 28th, 2005 at 7:21 am
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact reason for mainstream U.S. hostility toward France. I know that the late night talkshow hosts and other comedians have found plenty of humor in deriding France (including Robin Williams’ hilarious take on French sensibilities, and other non-conservative celebrities.) I think that a large number of Americans take their cues from these celebrities, lacking any other barometer than perhaps the GWB admin. Most Americans have never been to France.
And, not to beat up on America too badly, or why the hell not, I suspect that the gung-ho “America is #1!” mentality couldn’t quite cope with the turncoat French — who are supposed to be eternally grateful that we saved their collective asses in WWII. How dare the French not go along with everything we tell them to do?! Most of these Americans do not realize the big role that France played in our gaining our independence from Britain.
And of course, there’s the corresponding French cultural superiority, and artsy independent filmmaking, etc. What has France done lately? (When was the last time they saved the world from evil?)
I wonder if the more relaxed stance toward Germany is due to the large German immigrant population (and decendents of same) living in the U.S.
Anonymous:
October 28th, 2005 at 7:43 pm
My annoyance has been aimed at the Parisians I have run into. They are so proud of being the worlds leading Cosmopolitan population, that they have become rather parochial about the whole thing.
And, of course, the Communists/Socialists and their insults and snobbery. I get the impression that I am expected to grovel at their feet because they are so superior to “Americans”.
Phillep
mark:
October 29th, 2005 at 6:08 am
Hello Col –
Wondered when you’d wander over here and respond.
Yes. French military performance in Vietnam was particularly inept.I’m not sure how it could be categorized as anything else.
What Blaziot, Alessandri, Carpentier and Navarre did in Indochina through their efforts primarily was to contribute to the legend of Giap. They could not deal with Vietminh pourissment tactics in the delta or even organize an orderly retreat. The French MI did not penetrate the Vietminh, the Vietminh penetrated the French command – and not just with Vietnamese but with Europeans(!) whom they turned. Count me as no great admirer of William Westmoreland but he did a far better job in a country and with an enemy he certainly understood far less than his French predecessors.
I will grant you the French performance was abler ( and more brutal) in Algeria – the psychological stakes were of course, far higher there – and that retaining Indochina was beyond the strength of the Fourth Republic, but that doesn’t change how the war had been run from start to finish.
The Brits own Suez as well. Eden’s performance there was as calamitous as a great number two man trying to be number one could have been. A debacle from which Britain did not recover for a quarter-century.
In regard, to contemporary relations I’m stating an opinion, one I think is grounded in the reality of the situation that the American public is deeply alienated from the France right now. Ranging from the right wing to Dan’s very pro-EU, anti-Bush, left-wing, International Law professor. You can say it’s unjust or ill-informed or however you want to dismiss it but that perception remains a salient issue.
colllounsbury:
October 29th, 2005 at 10:21 am
I’m busy with business presently, not much time for this.
Re perceptions, I am in no position to argue, but I do consider the foolish and crudely exagerated France bashing (I have no deep love of the French state I may add) to be childishness.
Dan tdaxp:
October 31st, 2005 at 11:15 pm
I almost forgot — Noam Chomsky in Manufacturing Consent goes out of the way to criticize France. I believe he says that French are particularly closed-minded, or something equally surprising. He’s to the Left of Big Cheese!