Metropolitan France in a global context

Question 1

What is Soft Power?

Answer 1

defines the force of attraction which leads to the achievement of goals. It is the ability to shape the preferences of other countries through attractiveness and cooperation.

Global Ranking of Soft Power:
1) France
2) UK
3) Germany
4) Sweden
5) USA
6) Switzerland
7) Canada
8) Japan

Question 2

Soft Power measurements

Answer 2

Objective:
1. attractive higher and popular culture
2. educational opportunities for foreign students
3. international and diplomatic involvement
4. attractiveness of the economic model and its entrepreneurship-friendliness
5. level of digital development, including digital diplomacy
6. the attractiveness of the country’s political values

Subjective:
1. cuisine
2. technological and luxury products
3. hospitality towards tourists
4. contribution to global culture
5. foreign policy
6. willingness to live in other countries

Question 3

Global firepower index 2022

Answer 3

1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
4. India
5. Japan

Question 4

Smart Power

Answer 4

Soft Power+Hard Power

Question 5

International and diplomatic involvement of France

Answer 5

 Unrivaled international and diplomatic commitment

Conscience of nations, which gives France legitimacy to act in the international arena

Francophonie network

The 5th largest donor of official development aid

 International political events in Paris

International presence in military dimension

Question 6

Attractive higher and popular culture of France

Answer 6

The largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world

French cuisine recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural
heritage

Cultural icons such as the Eiffle Tower, the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum

The number and variety of museums, galleries and UNESCO cultural heritage sites

France is the most frequently chosen destination by tourists (several dozen million foreign tourists annually, a record result of 90 million tourists in 2018).

Cultural and sport events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Tour de France bicycle race

Question 7

France in Europe

Answer 7

The largest trading partners: Germany, Italy, Belgium

Most important economic partners: Belgium and Switzerland

Belgium: 1,300 French companies, French investments - 15% of all foreign investments, main investors: Bank Paribas, GDF Suez, Total.

Former Eastern Bloc countries: Romania (OIF member state) and Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary (OIF observers)

Romania: main investors: Société Générale, Orange, GDF Suez, Sanofi, Renault-Dacia

Poland: 760 enterprises with French capital from the following industries: telecommunications (France Telecom), trade (Carrefour, Auchan), construction (Lafarge), automotive (Michelin), banking (Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, Paribas), tourism (Accor), energy (EDF), media (Canal+), food (Danone, Bakoma), pharmaceutical (Sanofi-Aventis), cosmetics (L’Oréal), sports (Decathlon)

Question 8

Economy of France

Answer 8

 GDP per capita: 44 100 USD (2017), 39 260 (2020)

Structure of GDP: agriculture 2%, industry 19%, services 79%

Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2017), 8.3% (2020)

Economic reforms to improve competitiveness and boost economic growth and to cut public spending, taxes and social security

Question 9

Energy production in France

Answer 9

Main- Nuclear energy: 68.4% total power (2020)

Question 10

The largest French companies

Answer 10

Total, AXA, Carrefour, Credit Agricole, Peugeot, BNP Paribas, Electricite de France, Renault, Auchan, Societe Generale, Christian Dior LVMH, Orange, Bouygues, Sanofi, L’Oreal, AirFrance-KLM, Danone, Michelin, Safran, GDF Suez

Question 11

Research and development in France

Answer 11

• Île-de-France: Sacley (research and higher education institutions, R&D centres and companies e.g. Technocentre Renault, Danone, Thales Group, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia)
• Rhône-Alpes: Minalogic (nanotechnology eg.Laboratoire des sciences du climat et de l’environneme France Telecom, Thales, Bull)
• Middle Pyrenees: Aerospace Valley (aeronautic e.g. Airbus, AirFrance, Dassault aviation)
• Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur:
• Nuclear Research Center Cadarache
• Sophia-Antipolis technopole (telecommunications, space industry and aeronautics sectors)

Question 12

Paris region

Answer 12

• density: 21 230 people per km2
• Hyper-concentration of power and administrative and cultural functions (1,049 galleries, 1,000 cinemas, 423 concert halls and the creation of new ones: Musée Picasso in Marais, Philharomonic in Parc de la Villette, Fondation Louis Vuitton in Boulevard Boulon. 645,000 international students)
• Strong production geosystem (dynamic spatial system formed from the combination of elements of the natural and anthropogenic environment and their mutual dependence):
   agriculture: intensive farming
   industry: aeronautics (Safran, Thales, Dassault …), car (Renault,
  PSA), digital, health, mechanical, luxury goods, food, eco …
   great innovation potential: 150,000 employees in the R&D sector, Station F - business incubator
   the most innovative sectors: financial, digital, IT systems, health, sustainable development, aeronautics
• Cosmopolitanism: 40% of France’s immigrant population (2.2 million): Africans 42%, Europeans 30%, Asians 18%, Americans 10%.
  -Foreign student migrations: Africa 42%, Europe 26%, Asia 17%. 40% of PhD students.