It’s time to talk about France, especially after talking about the U.K. (What is the United Kingdom, anyway?).
Let’s try to understand France from eight perspectives as follows:
- France: an overview.
- Charlemagne.
- King Louis XVI.
- The French Revolution.
- Napoleon.
- France and America from 1776 to 1899.
- France today.
- France tomorrow.
1. France: an overview
Read Wikipedia – France. For France’s geographical expansion from year 481 to 870, watch this video:
(John, video: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France#/media/File:Franks_expansion.gif).
2. Charlemagne
Read Wikipedia – Charlemagne.
3. King Louis XVI
Read Wikipedia – Louis XVI of France.
4. The French Revolution
Read What is the French Revolution, anyway?
5. Napoleon
Read Wikipedia – Napoleon.
Note: Napoleon was very correct about China. In contrast, today many American elites still do not get it.
For more on Napoleon, watch the video below.
6. France and America from 1776 to 1899
America has been tightly linked with France since its first days! Two examples:
- The French were America’s allies in the American Revolution (1775-1783), which America might well have lost without strong French support.
- Even the treaty to conclude the American Revolution War was signed in Paris (Treaty of Paris – 1783)!
For more, read American Revolution vs. French Revolution.
Two significant gifts from France to America:
For more, read Democracy in America.
7. France today
Like the U.K., France is deeply in trouble. Two examples:
- Diversity.
- Democracy.
Let me briefly elaborate on each …
7.1 Diversity
Unlike the U.S., which is a country of immigrants after the indigenous people were mostly wiped out, France has native residents, with immigrants being “extra”, thanks to two factors:
- The French Empire, which allowed many citizens of its colonies to migrate to the mother country.
- The EU, which has resulted in an influx of Eastern European migrants to France.
7.2 Democracy
Like the U.S., France is paralyzed by democracy, incapable of making any significant change in accordance with time.
Like in the U.S., the white majority in France blames migrants for most of their misfortune, resulting in the rise of populism.
8. France tomorrow
Like the U.K., France faces an uncertain future.
Unlike the U.K., which faces two profound challenges (i.e., monarchy and colonialism), France only has the challenge with colonialism (but not monarchy). Yes, France is actually a remaining colonial power!
As America, the last big colonial power standing, fades in the coming years (Colonial America 1776-2030?), what does that mean to France?
For more, read History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline.
9. Closing
Among the major economies in Europe, France not only is the oldest republic that has endured but also has proven to be a uniquely great country. In this respect, France is quite different from her neighbors (e.g., the U.K. and Germany), especially in terms of independence.
Vive la France!
Now, please sit back and enjoy the video below.
