CNN are celebrating Sarkozy's first anniversary as the president with a series called Eye on France, and the website asks its readers a series of five questions. Here's my go at answering them.
In his victory speech, President Sarkozy said France had turned "a new page" in its history. Do you agree?
French politics and French history, even though they are intricately intertwined, are not one. By accessing power, and by his behaviour as a President, he has dramatically changed the way politics work, in a way that is not too different from the way Nixon changed US politics. Permanent campaign is now part of France's political landscape (mostly because of the Parti Socialiste's lack of direction, everyone now looks ahead to the next elections in 2012). Private life is, more than ever, part of politic life in France. It becomes quite worrying when the headlines made by the President are about his private life than about actual political projects. Privacy interfering with political life is a double-edged sword - it can hide certain political facts, be a boost in opinion polls, but also, as we saw with the Monicagate, have disastrous consequences.
Another difference brought about by Sarkozy's arrival to power, a "page that is turned", as one might say, is that the establishment was somehow pushed around. Sarkozy does not come out of one of the Grandes Ecoles, he is one who says "magnifical" to the Queen, and seemingly does not pay much respect to those institutions. The great divide between left and right is also discarded, as the President is taking onboard figureheads from the alleged left-wing party, like Bernard Kouchner.
But in terms of society, no big change (like that of May '68) has been brought about. Or not yet, at least. Big strikes have always been there when reforms were introduced - France is actually renowned for them. So I don't believe there is a new page in the history of France.
What do you think most defines France's reputation around the world?
France's reputation around the world is twofold. There is the historical aspect - France is the nation of the Human Rights, of the Enlightenment, and has an impressive 18th-19th century culture, and many many touristic landsights predating that. It is also supposed to be the land of diplomacy (after all, French is the international language for diplomacy...). But lately, France has appeared as a meddler, insofar as it intervenes on the international scene in controversial ways. The first rupture was that of the war on Iraq, strongly opposed by the French. The second was France's "no" to the European Constitution referendum. And lately, protests against the Beijing Olympics have sparkled more in Paris than anywhere else.
This is what puts France in the spotlight - its foreign policy, not its culture or its stars. The Cannes festival is just over, and the winner is a French film, but such events are so exceptional compared to, say, Hollywood blockbusters, that its influence on people's perception of France is minimal.
In terms of society, France is shown mostly via its strikes, but again, they don't make much of the headlines in international media; Michael Moore's Sicko has given a (biased) view on French society as well, but it is quite doubtful whether the film has had a defining role in defining France's reputation around the world.
So, France is mostly defined internationally by its foreign policy.
Is French culture still alive today?
French culture is more alive than ever these days. A reason behind that is possibly the very cheap access to broadband internet, which has allowed the birth of many Internet artists. Music, humour, are therefore two very active scenes in France. Recent hit artists include Renan Luce. In terms of cinema, the gold palm at the Cannes festival shows it is quite alive, and successes of the past decade, like Amélie, are also a sign that French culture is alive and well.
Still, French cinema is far from being what American cinema is - and maybe it should not strive to become another Hollywood. Not that blockbusters are bad, mind - it's just that diversity is good. The French are known to hold tight to their "cultural exception", and rightly they should!
Who are France's most influential people?
France's most influential people these days are - well, the politicians. Or, more precisely, the politician around whom all revolves, Mr Sarkozy. Even though he does not wholly control the media, the buzz is around his private life, and he manages to keep it there. And reforms go forward, despite bad opinion polls, and despite strikes.
Big corporate heads are not that influential, however. They keep standing in the tempest of soaring prices, and economic stagnation, awarding themselves big bonuses; but that does not lead to much debate or change of course in France's economy or politics.
What do you think is unique/distinctive about the French?
What is unique about being French is not being ashamed of standing up for what you believe in. This is seen in our reactions in international politics; it is also seen in internal politics, as the huge strikes show. It would seem the French strike for anything, or for ridiculous demands - when they just want to hold on to what they have acquired at a dear cost. It is quite sad that strikes have been so overused that there seems to be no other way towards compromises, but British teachers have also been on strike for what could be seen as ridiculous demands by their French counterparts (salary demands, when French teachers get paid less).
It shows some pride, if not arrogance, but the results are those that we know today - it is the same willingness to stand up for themselves that led to the French Revolution.
In terms of what living in France means - I think everyone who has lived both in France and elsewhere will agree that it is the sheer amount of paperwork required for anything!