With Britain tormented by its decision to leave the European Union, France waits, anticipating Brexit’s fall-out whilst also fantasising over a society full of unicorns. Emmanuel Macron’s pledge in June 2017 to make France a ‘start-up nation’ follows the growing trend of startup creation around Europe, and the appetite to produce startup companies valued at […]
France
Racism, Revolution and Resistance: France’s current political turmoil
The cleansing wave of ‘Pasokification’ (the process whereby traditional European social democratic and conservative/Christian democratic parties lose their support base) crashed in France in the 2017 election, leaving three populists on the shore with their heads above the water. Macron, the election winner and self-declared ‘Jupiterian’ sun-king, was a populist only in loose terms. He […]
What Links The Three Colours?
I arrived at the Three Colours Trilogy late. For years it had adorned my watchlist and been the gaping hole in my small smug cabinet of European art house. Trilogies are often the result of a more cynical, franchising side of cinema, so for cinephiles disgruntled with this fact emphasis is often put on spiritual successors […]
Emmanuel Macron: A Centrist Myth?
Last April, France elected their youngest leader since Napoleon, Emmanuel Macron. A year on, the President of the Republic’s popularity is waning as his approval ratings continue to fall. Some critics say Macron’s centrist platform is a fallacy and correlate his actions, perceived to be far from centrist, to be the reason why. However, the […]
Christmas – The Parisian Way
There’s no doubt about it, Paris is certainly one of the places to be around Christmastime. Though Christmas lights are turned on slightly later than on the other side of the Channel, Christmas spirit is still in the air. I feel rather lucky to be here at this time of year, and it gives me […]
We’re in for a treat after the Autumn Series
The 2017 set of Autumn internationals stand amongst some of the best in recent memory for the home nations, and alongside the 1-1 drawn Lions summer series with New Zealand, the gulf between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere has substantially reduced. We’re now halfway through the World Cup cycle to Japan and England, Ireland and […]
The biggest referring blunders on the international stage
L ast week Northern Irish World Cup dreams were shattered at the hands of Switzerland, ultimately by one incredibly controversial refereeing decision. A Swiss attempt struck Corry Evans on the back in the penalty area, but the referee saw differently. Evans was deemed to have handballed, conceding a penalty which AC Milan defender Ricardo Rodriguez […]
France’s state of emergency- the new normal?
Earlier this year, French president Emmanuel Macron announced that the state of emergency would be extended to the 1st November 2017, and as the latest lapse of the regime is being renewed, has this really become the “new normal”? Firstly, a little bit of context. The state of emergency was introduced in France as far […]
What is happening in France?
After the French army liberated Mali in 2013, the Malian people offered President Hollande a camel in thanks. Attempting to avoid an awkward photo-op back home, Hollande donated the animal to a Malian family. The family promptly turned it into camel soup. The story epitomises the outgoing President’s woes. Five years ago he was “Mr […]
Living Abroad in France: A Student’s Perspective
Living abroad in Strasbourg, France, this past year has really challenged everything I thought I knew about myself. I have seen myself become the beer-drinking, efficient map-reading individual I never thought I’d be. Anyone who knows me also knows I like a good bargain. Whether it’s a free pen from the forum or an overripe […]