Anti-Americanism and left-right ideology in France

• Published in: French politics Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 201 - 221
• Main Author: Ray, Leonard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Palgrave Macmillan UK 01.09.2011; Palgrave Macmillan
• Subjects: Anti-Americanism; Antisemitism; Attitudes; Cold War; Comparative Politics; Economic Development; Economic Policy; European Politics; Foreign policy; France; Ideological influences; Ideology; Iraq; Left Wing Politics; Liberalism; Neoliberalism; Original Article; Political affiliation; Political attitudes; Political culture; Political Science; Political Science and International Relations; Political Science and International Studies; Politics; Public opinion; Public opinion surveys; United States; United States of America; France; United States > US; anti-Americanism; ideology; Sarkozy; public opinion; de Gaulle
• ISSN: 1476-3419; 1476-3427
• DOI: 10.1057/fp.2011.13

This article examines the shifting relationship between left-right ideology and anti-Americanism in France. Neo-Gaullist episodes such as French opposition to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 have only underscored the weakness of anti-Americanism on the French right, as this policy was least popular among the supporters of the center right UMP, and found more support on the left. This article traces the decline of right wing anti-Americanism in the French public, and the increasing alignment of anti-American attitudes with the left end of the left-right ideological dimension. This development is placed in the context of the increasing emphasis on neoliberal economic policy on the post-Gaullist right, and the use of the United States as a model for neoliberal economic policy.