Re: The election heartquake in France

This left-right distinction is essentially an Anglo-American legacy, if I am 
not mistaken (French rightists would probably use the mistaken term 
"anglo-saxon" here... :-) , but that is another issue). Being right wing can 
also reflect an extremely strong nationalistic sense. Think of de Gaulle and 
Pétain, both right wingers, both strong nationalists, both strong Catholics. 
They ended up on opposite sides of the war on the basis of strategic 
disagreements.

On the other hand, the socialist-Marxist background has always maintained a 
strong sense of internationalism (remember the Song? Remember the 1st, 2nd, 
3rd, 4th International? etc...). Class distinctions were viewed as inherently 
trans-national and that is why socialist movements were often viewed as 
treacherous by nationalist. It is on the same basis that so many left-wing 
advocates could justify doing intelligence for foreign countries they viewed 
as representing the internationalist cause best.

Jean-Claude Guédon

Le 22 Avril 2002 08:45, Alan Spector a écrit :
> Boris brings up an interesting  point here. It has been common for many in
> the past to assume that "Left wing governments equal nationalism and
> anti-US sentiments" while "Right wing governments equal pro-capitalism and
> closer ties with the capitalist USA."
>
> But Boris reminds us that right wing governments can also become very
> anti-USA. And the issue isn't just France.......how Russia will evolve is a
> particularly important question.
>
> Alan Spector
>
> ====================
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Boris Stremlin" <bstremli@binghamton.edu>
> To: "Michael de Socio" <desoc001@hotmail.com>
> Cc: <Anne-Marie.Jeay@univ-nancy2.fr>; <wsn@csf.colorado.edu>
> Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 12:21 AM
> Subject: Re: The election heartquake in France
>
> > Anne-Marie,
> >
> > I wouldn't be too hasty about moving to the US:  Chirac will almost
> > definitely win the runoff, and in a recent story covering the French
> > elections, the New York Times observed that the "right-wing" Chirac is
> > well to the left of - Al Gore!  We're not exactly the same planet here...
> >
> > However, Michael is correct to note a general rightward shift in Europe.
> > Thus, I repose a question I asked here several months ago - what does a
> > rightward shift in Europe mean for the relationship between Europe and
> > the US (and for future of EU integration).
> >
> > On Sun, 21 Apr 2002, Michael de Socio wrote:
> > > I was shocked to read this morning that La Pen and Chirac will be
> > > facing off. This seems to be the general rightward trend, doesn't it?
> > > Bush Jr., Sharon, Berlusconi in Italy, Haider in Austria; Denmark
> > > recently went to
>
> the
>
> > > right as well.
> > >
> > > Bush's "war against terrorism," his war against the Other, especially
>
> Arabs
>
> > > and Muslims, must have played a large role in the resurgence of La Pen?
> > > (Incidentally, the last I heard, he was in prison and was barred from
>
> ever
>
> > > running in elections again. What happened?)
> > >
> > > But maybe not all is bad news: Jospin (center-left-liberal) lost
> > > because
>
> the
>
> > > far left received an astounding 10% of the vote. Perhaps we'll start to
>
> see
>
> > > a resurgence of the Left (and not the wimpy, laissez-faire
> > > Clinton-Blair variety, modelled, after all, on Reagan).
> > >
> > > michael de socio
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> >
> > --
> > Boris Stremlin
> > bstremli@binghamton.edu