Postcolonial France and French overseas territories

Question 1

How many regions France consists of?

Answer 1

13 European and 5 Overseas regions

Question 2

What are France’s overseas regions/departments?

Answer 2

1) French Guiana
2) Guadeloupe
3) Martinique
4) Réunion
5) Mayotte

Question 3

What are Frances’s overseas territories/collectivities?

Answer 3

1) French Polynesia (country)
2) Saint-Barthélemy
3) Saint-Martin
4) Saint-Pierre and
Miquelon
5) Wallis and Futuna

Question 4

Which country is an autonomous collectivity?

Answer 4

New Caledonia

Question 5

What are other French territories and entities?

Answer 5

French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Clipperton Island

Question 6

What is colonialism?

Answer 6

the reign of states called metropolises over overseas areas called colonies, with a different status: part of the metropolitan territory or with territorial distinctiveness, but always in a position of subordination and dependence

Question 7

French colonialism

Answer 7

 XVII-XVIII centuries – America

 1830 - Algiers (colony); 1848-1962 - an integral part of the territory on different rights and strong European settlement (from Algerian to Pied Noir)

1858 - the beginning of the conquest of Indochina; French Indochina (1887- 1954)

1870. - the conquest of Africa (sales market, civilization mission, imperial aspirations); French West Africa (1904-1958) and French Equatorial Africa (1910-1958)

Question 8

What is Francophonie?

Answer 8

the general population speaking French. According to estimates, it is about 300 million people on all continents, mainly in Africa and Europe. French is the second most frequently taught language, historically it is the language of diplomacy, the modern signs of which are the names and abbreviations of all international organizations in English and French

-1966 - on the initiative of African countries, the idea was born to strengthen cultural and political cooperation within the French-speaking countries in order to create privileged relations with France

-1970 - International Organization of Francophonie: 70 countries: 54 members, 2 associated countries and 14 observers (including Poland)

Question 9

What is Francafrique?

Answer 9

Françafrique refers to the complex and often controversial relationship between France and its former African colonies, characterized by continued political, economic, and military influence. This neocolonial dynamic allows France to maintain significant control over these countries’ affairs, frequently prioritizing French interests over local autonomy and development. Despite criticisms and calls for reform, the legacy of Françafrique continues to shape contemporary Franco-African relations.

Question 10

Different opinions on Francafrique

Answer 10

„Since Niger can contribute to the uniqueness of French power, it is natural that France contributes uniquely to the development of Niger” Hamani Diori, Niger president, Niamey

A nuclear power - Control of uranium and crude oil, etc. one of the reasons for maintaining the mechanism of economic, political and military domination of France over its former colonies:
-1960 - the first nuclear test in Algeria, another in the years: 1960-1966, another in French Polynesia - until 1996 (a total of 210)
-Areva in Niger

„Without Africa, there will be no history of France in the 21st century”
François Mitterrand, 1957

„Economically, France no longer needs Africa” Nicolas Sarkozy, 2006

„Between France and Africa there must be a love story” Emmanuel Macron, 2020

Question 11

What is outermost region?

Answer 11

Outermost Regions. The Outermost Regions (OMR) are territories forming part of a member state of the European Union but situated a significant distance from mainland Europe.

These regions have to deal with a number of difficulties related to their geographical characteristics, in particular:
 remoteness
 insularity
small size
difficult topography
 climate

They are economically dependent on a few products (often agricultural products or natural resources).
These features act as constraints on their future development potential.

Question 12

What are the nine outermost regions?

Answer 12

-Five French overseas departments — Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and Réunion;

-One French overseas community — Saint-Martin;

-Two Portuguese autonomous regions — Madeira and the Azores;

-One Spanish autonomous community — the Canary Islands.

Question 13

French Guiana- basic information

Answer 13

1. French Guiana (1604 - first French settlers, largest overseas region)

 An economy dependent on:
a. EU and French subsidies
b. Imports of: food (coastal agriculture: rice and cassava), energy and machinery (52% of imports from France)

 Sawmill industry

 Exports: wood logs, shrimp, rum, gold (62% of exports to France)

 European Space Agency - Kourou spaceport

 GDP per person $ 6,000 (1998), the problem of unemployment (21%), mainly young people, employment in services dominates (61%)

Question 14

Guadeloupe- basic information

Answer 14

Guadeloupe (1635 - French estate)

 Caribbean economy dependent on:
1. Agriculture (traditional sugarcane replaced by banana plantations - 50% of income from exports, eggplants and flowers)
2. Tourism (cruising in the Caribbean Sea, mainly Americans)
3. Light industry (sugar - rum, also for export)
4. Subsidies and imports from France - 63% (fuel and processed products)

 Export - 60% to France

 The problem of unemployment (28%, mostly young people) and hurricanes

 GDP per person $ 8,000 (2001)

Question 15

Martinique- basic information

Answer 15

Martinique (1635 - French colony, smallest and least populated)

 Caribbean economy dependent on:
1. Agriculture (traditional sugar cane replaced by banana plantations)
2. Tourism (the most important source of foreign income)
3. Light industry (sugar, also for export)
4. Subsidies and imports from France

 Exports: petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (France 45%, Guadeloupe 28%)

 Imports: food, petroleum products, processed goods (France 62%)  GDP per person $ 14,400 (2001), unemployment 27%

Question 16

Reunion- basic information

Answer 16

Reunion (1513 - discovered by the Portuguese, inhabited by the French from the 17th century, the most populous)

 Traditional agriculture (sugar cane still accounts for 85% of exports) replaced by services, development mainly of tourism as a remedy for the problem of unemployment (1/3 of employees in this sector)

 Economy dependent on French financial aid, sugar and rum exports (74% to France) and imports of processed goods (64% from France)

 Strong social polarization as a cause of tensions and internal conflicts (unemployment 36%) GDP per person $ 5,800 (2001)

Question 17

Mayotte- basic information

Answer 17

Mayotte (1843 - French colony with other Comoros islands, 1974 - became part of France)

An economy dependent on:
1. Agriculture (fishery and livestock farming)
2. Food imports, mainly from France
3. Financial transfers

Tourism underdeveloped (high degree of geographical isolation)
 Exports: perfumes, vanilla, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

GDP per person $ 4,900 (2005), unemployment 25%

Question 18

French Polynesia and New Caledonia (overseas territories)- basic information

Answer 18

1. French Polynesia (from the 19th century inhabited by the French, 1880 - a French estate)

 1966 - Mururoa Atoll nuclear tests, 1975 underground, 1996 - suspended.

 A traditionally agricultural economy currently dependent on the tourism sector (85% of GDP, 17% of employees, Tahiti, Bora Bora), pearl oyster farming (54% of exports) and French financial transfers (infrastructure, maritime industry, cultural and ecological positions)

 Exports: pearls, coconuts, vanilla, shark meat (Japan 23%, Hong Kong 21%, Kyrgyzstan and the United States 16%, France 12%)

 Imports: fuels, food and machinery (France 28%, South Korea, USA, China …)  GDP per person $ 17,000 (2015), unemployment 22%

New Caledonia (1853 - French estate, previously inhabited by the French and British)

 11% of the world’s nickel reserves (2nd place)

 Economy dependent on nickel exports (price fluctuations), tourism, French
financial aid and food imports (20% food)

 Exports: nickel and fish (China 25%, Japan 17%, South Korea 15%, France
8%

 Imports: fuels, food and machinery (France 24%, Singapore, China, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia …)

 GDP per person $ 31,100 (2015), unemployment 15%