More about the French elections

[Elisabeth Vincentelli]

Unfortunately I'm no expert on either of these events. I'd be more
comfortable talking about 1995 had I lived it in France instead of being in
the US! All I know is what I heard from friends and family in France, as
well as what I read in the French press. One obvious thing that's very
different is the socialist left's experience with government--it was in the
opposition in 1968, while in 1995 it had mostly experienced power since
1981, with a few exceptions like the first "cohabitation." This had changed
its relationship with its allies in unions and on its left (the communist
party, the Trotskyists groups, the newly empowered Greens, etc.). Another
change in 1995 was the birth of very active associations such as the ones
fighting for the rights of the unemployed and the underemployed, as well as
for the rights of illegal immigrants--though one could point out that 1968
was influential as well in the birth of para-leftist organizations (one
could argue that the French feminist and gay movements were born out of
1968).

Speaking of which, I highly recommend Frederic Martel's book The Pink and
the Black: Homosexuals in France Since 1968 (Stanford). While I don't agree
with all its tenets, it's one of the best things I've ever read on sexual
and gender politics in France, and it goes way beyond mere "gay politics" in
the way it addresses cultural issues. The chapters on AIDS are particularly
chilling. Note: The author is very strongly opposed to what he sees as
American-style "ghettoization" and recommends "Republican" integration.

Elisabeth

Elisabeth


> Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 13:36:01 -0500
> From: Jim Farmelant <farmelantj at juno.com>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: More about the French elections
> 
> How would Elisabeth compare the importance of the events of 1995
> with the May-June events of 1968 (which I think got much
> more attention in the US at the time)  in French political life?
> 
> Jim F.