CHRONICLE – Why are the French so nostalgic for the France of yesterday? You have to read French metamorphoses (Threshold) by Jérôme Fourquet to understand it.
France has the blues. She looks back. According to a recent survey, 64% of French people « would like their country to return to what it used to be”. +8% in ten years. Only 34% say that globalization has been beneficial to them, compared to 40% in 2022. 26 points difference with the world average. This summer's Potemkin Olympics had no effect on their morale. « Life is what we've been through these last few weeks, that's real life ! », Emmanuel Macron said after leaving the Olympic party. « Yes, it will be fine » : this was the message that historian and architect of the opening ceremony Patrick Boucheron wanted to convey in his “pourtousist” and progressive show. The French do not seem to have learned their lesson.
Why are they so focused on the past? Which France do they regret? To understand it, you have to read Metamorphoses…
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