La France's state of mind

From John Lichfield in The Independent, London:

France's "national psychiatrist" has issued an alarming report on the democratic and social health of the nation as it prepares to select a new president next year. Gérard Mermet, a sociologist who publishes a much respected bulletin on the country's state of mind every two years, suggests that France now suffers from a collective form of three mental illnesses: paranoia, schizophrenia and hypochondria.

In Francosopie 2007, M. Mermet says that France is "schizophrenic," because it finds it difficult to "recognise the realities" of the "great changes" happening in the world around it. He says France is "paranoid" because it believes itself to be the victim of a "global plot" and to have been betrayed by its own "elites."

Finally, France is a "hypochondriac" because it downplays its achievements and advantages and wilfully exaggerates its economic and social ills.

All in all, M. Mermet says, the French are individually happy but collectively miserable. No candidate in next year's election would dare to point out this contradiction, M. Mermet says. They would immediately be accused of being part of an "elite" conspiracy to deny the hardships of the people.

France's state of mind explains the social unrest of the past 14 months and the rise of political extremes of right and left, he says. What the country needs is a plain-talking politician, capable of making the French face up to realities, both good and bad, and "re-founding" the French Republic.

M. Mermet's comments are based on a compelling picture of France - confirming some prejudices but busting many others - which emerges in the latest edition of the book, published every two years since 1985. In nearly 500 pages of studies of market research, social trends, economic and demographic statistics and opinion polls, M. Mermet suggests that there is a yawning gap - much larger than in other countries - between everyday life in France and the unsuccessful, angry, confused image that France has of itself.

"The French suffer more in their minds, than in their flesh," he says. Questioned on the future of France, 76 per cent of French people are deeply pessimistic. But questioned about their own lives and hopes, they are fairly optimistic.

Gaps between poor and rich are reducing, not increasing, as most French believe. Disposable incomes are rising. French industry, with some exceptions, is competing reasonably well in the new global market-place (even though much needs to be done to reduce the burdens of tax and regulation).

Part of the problem, M. Mermet suggests, is that the French have lost confidence in their politicians and political institutions. M. Mermet told The Independent: "It is a deliberate exaggeration, of course, to say that France is a schizophrenic, paranoid and hypochondriac nation but it is an exaggeration which tries to make an important point. By not facing up to realities, we are in danger of turning France's many advantages into handicaps."

Apart from anything else, M. Mermet feels that the French, as a nation, should "get out more." Only one in ten French people each year travels abroad - much less than other EU countries. Ignorance of the rest of the world, he suggests, helps the French to insist, simultaneously, that their social model is excellent and that everything is going to the bad.

In truth, he says, France finds it difficult to distinguish between what works and what does not. The country's much vaunted social model often does the opposite of what it is supposed to do. Job protection creates unemployment; the "egalitarian" education system creates elites.

M. Mermet insists that his analysis is non-partisan, but his book contains words of caution about the Socialist front-runner for the presidency next year, Ségolène Royal. By turning over much of her campaign to "participative democracy" - or ideas from the grassroots - Mme Royal could help to bridge the gap between politicians and the electorate, he says. On the other hand she could just have found a new way of avoiding the old, hard decisions.

Comments

[ainelivia]

"the French are individually happy but collectively miserable", I laughed when I read this because this is how I have always experienced French people, and I feel that it is part of their charm.

Catching up on your recent posts I want to visit Paris again. It's been so long and your photos tempt me so much. It's the Eurostar that's the problem, I'm not good in tunnels...

[Amber]

Hmmm...To swipe words, perhaps they could say that "there is nothing wrong with France, that can't be fixed by what is right with France"? ;)

Oh, I think this is happening here, too. I think people here feel pretty good about their own personal lives, but things about the government and this war have made people feel pretty bad about the country. It is not right, for our optimistic U.S. to feel this way... We also need a leader to inspire us, and remind us who we are!

The other day I watched a news program than was talking about how little our government gave in aid to other nations compared to other nations. People always feel bad about this, and point it out as evidence of how crappy and selfish we are... But then it went on top point out that American People give more and volunteer more PERSONALLY than any other nation is the world! That some entire aid organizations are built on the charity of personal donations and time that comes from American citizens.

Who we think we are v's who we are.

Maybe this disconnect that France and America is having, is also happening in other nations...Maybe it is in the air, part of the changing times.

:)

[Laura]

This is fascinating, Tara. I do think that feeling bad about one's country's leaders is very demoralizing. I certainly feel demoralized about my country and our future. I'd heard the statistic about the French vacationing mostly in France before, but never thought about its implications for French understanding the rest of the world and how their country measures up in the world community. As for me, I'm with Tinker. I wouldn't leave France much either!

[Paris Parfait]

Annie, the reality is pretty much as portrayed in this article (and the book). Most of my French friends are pleased with their own lives, but in despair for France and its future. Some of them plan to move abroad to retire, due to French taxes. Even the national treasure Johnny Hallyday changed his residence to Belgium for tax purposes.

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

I think the US needs a national psyhciatrist (or at least the executive branch of government), I wonder what that diagnosis would be. Very interesting post and article, Tara. I am surprised at the rate of collective pessimism described.

[annieelf]

Interesting commentary T. How do you find this in your reality of living there?

[Colette]

"The French suffer more in their minds, than in their flesh," he says. Questioned on the future of France, 76 per cent of French people are deeply pessimistic. But questioned about their own lives and hopes, they are fairly optimistic."

Having had a thoroughly French education, I have to say that this is not new. Two common expressions (all my life) have been "Ce n'est pas mal" rather than "C'est merveilleux" and "Ce n'est pas logique". And logic can make one suffer!! It took years for me to undo all of that in myself.

[tinker]

"Only one in ten French people each year travels abroad" - since France is one of my dream destinations, I can't blame them, really for vacationing in country!