Introduction
One wouldn’t be condemned if they were lost and later found on a landscape dominated in the last few weeks by the current never-ending development in France. If one is ‘wise’ enough to admit the complete dominance of European politics by the right intellectual poverty for now, then the question would be why is the irrelevant made relevant in the French political landscape? This question points directly to the heart of the issue, quenelle, currently raging in France between the powerful elite and majority poor French.
The last few weeks has seen serious emergence of action by the French state since the ill-fated election of Mr Normal, Francois Hollande. Some may take issue with the word ‘ill-fated’ and rightly so. For common French citizens i.e. the majority poor he is a continuation of delusion, hopelessness and poverty of leadership that can be traced back to former president Francois Mitterrand.
Elite Failed Seduction vs. Power Potential of the Multitude
On all counts of his election promise, Mr Hollande’s government has failed to the point that he has been honoured with the lowest presidential poll rating since such record began in France. While that may not be a serious indicator of performance there is no other figures pointing him in positive light. Unemployment numbers have not changed and the so-called holy grail of economic performance in triple A+ lost by the previous government remains unrestored. The question now can be rightly posed, what is the current French government up to?
Before dissecting the question it is important to address the quenelle issue. Not so much on the etymology, morphology, description or essence as I have no time to regurgitate extremes of shallowness or sagacity of many ‘experts’ on the matter. Nevertheless the crucial point is acceptance that finally the government has bared her teeth in an infamous way to distracting citizens and population from pressing ahead with focusing. That is focusing on the poverty of leadership, intellectual hollowing out and administrative meltdown of the French elite. The quenelle debacle is part of the lengthy final lap of dishonour of the French elite who have finally confirmed their impotence, inability and unwillingness to rule.
Neoliberal Allergies
On another level it is also a confirmation of a pattern making round in Europe in the last decade that democratic process and elections are simply tools by the elite to dominate self-deflated majority. The fact that the European Union is a bastion of neoliberal ideology is not lost on citizens across the continent but there is special resonance when it comes to France. Therefore the French elite decided to make an example of an individual, a comedian and a citizen whose only crime is reminding citizens of their right of awareness in a civil space.
Now that the full force of the state has come to bear on the ‘problem’ what next? Will the economy improve? Will the fortune of neoliberal agenda be rolled back? Will any sense of being special be felt by ordinary French men and women? No, is the answer on the three counts; rather the austerity homily will continue without soft belly. The French population will continue to haemorrhage from leadership poverty of elitism and political retrogression.
Therefore the current French leadership personalised in Francois Hollande has failed with no success in sight till the next election when hopefully the candidate, Mr/Miss Abnormal may enter the Elysee Palace.
Élan Genealogy
None of these unfolding events is either new or crept in by surprise if you are patient with history. Like I stated earlier various previous French presidents have used grandiosity and questionable decisions to bamboozle the electorate. Even General De Gaulle was in the act by pretending to punch above his weight while reality presented a contrary narrative. One must understand the attempt by Napoleon to turn France into undisputed power ended with him in defeat. Jacques Chirac charm and apparent Gallic prowess only consolidate charismatic delusion devoid of increase in quality of life or real prestige in the international arena. Nicolas Sarkozy finally tilted the balance by among horrendous things dismantling French ‘uniqueness’ for a lapdog patch on the altar of US hegemony. Re-joining NATO high Command finally laid De Gaulle to rest in peace.
Francois Hollande simply took over the baton from another elite to continue the policies of his predecessors. What many refused to acknowledge it that elites dominate European political landscape via parties as much as there is no need for difference in policies, opinions and strategies. It is a battle between ‘powerless’ majority and the minority with power. Either the majority put up or shut up. Power cannot be given up without a fight and at the moment French majority are seduced, deluded and confused.
Loser (Client) Projecting Power at the Periphery
Inability to sustain expected change at home has pushed Paris on constant misadventure abroad especially in Africa in the bid to knock London off the perch of 'special relationship' with Washington DC. As the new underling of the State Department it took the lead in 2011 Libyan destruction, Malian invasion and now Central African Republic invasion. All to enable US global capital masked as AFRICOM to extend its sphere against Chinese interests through recolonisation. Evidently and over time there will be nothing to show for it except the usual nibbles of defence contracts for the elites. This pattern of external and southwards vision indicates fundamental failure in Europe where Germany has got back everything she lost without firing a shot in almost 2 generations. Paris is no longer an equal of Berlin. There is one European economic and political power, Germany, and Paris knows it and its architecture. The EU Paris worked so hard to set up as a bulwark against Germany has failed both French elite in a way and truly the French people. Hence the new African adventures! Poignantly Bismarck said his Africa is in Europe.
Historical Bookmark
The trail of failures of French elite is almost genetic and intergenerational in significance. The biggest of it was rendered clearly and emphatically. The result is Germany. Otto von Bismarck, Prussian Chancellor, spent most of his career attempting to forge Prussia and Germanic principalities into a unified powerful state in the centre of Europe to counter Britain, Russia and France. By twist of French elite incredulity and incompetence, Bismarck joined a conflict in which Napoleon III was taken prisoner by Prussian forces. This defeat was consolidated in the Hall of Mirrors Versailles and Germany was born in 1871, with sclerotic consequences for later generations.
Conclusion
French state reaction to Quenelle is a distraction per excellence a la French elite. It is a fitting conclusion to remind the French elite to avoid crying like a woman for what it failed to hold like a man.
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