7311 - France Background information1ST March 2013
FRANCE
France, our nearest neighbour, is a large country with a rich and
varied history, even up to recent times. In this leaflet we can
only give a taste – or perhaps we should say “un goût”. GEOGRAPHY
This hexagon-shaped country, covering 551,500 sq km, stretches
between the English Channel in the north, the Atlantic Ocean in the
west and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. The mountain ranges of
the Pyrenees form a natural border with Spain; the Jura and Alps
with Italy and Switzerland, and the River Rhine with Germany.
France shares borders with Belgium to the north and Luxembourg to
the north-east. River basins and gently rolling hills encompass
much of northern and western France, while the plateaux and
mountains of the Massif Central extend through large parts of
southern and central France. Important rivers include the Rhône,
the Loire and the Seine. Mont Blanc is the highest point at 4,808m.
The regions to the north and west share a temperate maritime
climate with plenty of rain. The interior has a mild continental
climate with warm summers and cool winters. Southern France has a
Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and mild rainy winters.
The Mistral is a hot wind that blows from north to south in summer
and may cause fires in the south. There are seven national parks
throughout metropolitan France, the last created in 2011, thus
protecting 2% of the total area. They draw over seven million
visitors every year. France still has the Overseas Territories of
Guadeloupe and Martinique (Caribbean), Guyana (S. America), Réunion
(Indian Ocean), Mayotte, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis
and Futuna (S. Pacific) and St. Pierre and Miquelon (Newfoundland,
Canada). France has a wide range of Fauna and Flora. The large
predatory animals of prehistoric times, such as wolves, brown bears
and elk have disappeared, though bears still live as a protected
species in the Pyrenees Mountains. Smaller animals include martens,
wild pigs, foxes, weasels, bats, rodents and rabbits. By the 15th
century France had largely been denuded of its primeval forests and
was forced to rely on Scandinavia and its North American colonies
for timber. Significant remaining forested areas are in the Gascony
region and in the Alsace-Ardennes area. The Ardennes Forest was the
scene of extensive fighting in both world wars. The red poppies of
the fields are perhaps the most well–known flowers, as are ‘fleur
de lys’ (white lilies) and carnations. Lavender grows in the fields
of Provence, mimosa in the south of France and the gentian and
other alpine spring flowers appear with the melting snows in the
Alps. HISTORY – from earliest days... In the caves of Lascaux, the
famous wall paintings estimated to be from about 18,000 BC give us
an idea of France’s prehistoric settlers. For four centuries, the
Roman Empire controlled the land of Gaul, inhabited by this time by
the Celts. From the 4th Century AD many other tribes invaded the
land, the Franks under their king, Clovis, giving the country the
name by which it is known now. Clovis was baptised into the
Catholic faith in 496 AD, giving France its title of ‘eldest
daughter of the Church’. The kings of France began to increase the
size and importance of their realm through conquests – either
through war or marriage – but relied on the support of the Catholic
Church. During the Reformation many aristocrats became Protestant,
but the king was always the upholder of Catholicism. After the Wars
of Religion, Henri IV, having converted to Catholicism on becoming
king, published the Edict of Nantes, allowing Protestants to live
and worship equally with Catholics. 100 years later in 1685 AD this
Edict was revoked by Louis XIV, grandson of Henri IV, who was told
by advisors that this large religious minority was a threat to the
absolute authority of the monarch. Pastors were exiled, but the
Protestant worshippers were forbidden to leave France. However
about 200,000 – the Huguenots – left for other parts of Europe.
They
brought their textile skills of weaving and lace-making to parts of
England and Ireland. Their descendents are still living in the same
areas. At this same time, many foreign scholars and artists came to
France as part of the Court. The majority of the population were
peasants with no land rights. Wars, excessive taxation and food
shortages led to unrest. Any rebellion was crushed mercilessly. In
1635, under King Louis XIII, the Académie Française was created to
define the French Language through an official dictionary. Along
with administration, language bonded the French society. A few
regional languages, considered as part of the French heritage, have
survived in the corresponding ‘départements’, namely Alsatian,
Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan and Languedoc. ... to
more recent times In the 18th century, rationalist philosophers
called for the separation of power between the Church and the State
and also for freedom of speech. The French Revolution of 1789
changed French society in every way. The State became secular and
aristocrats and clergy lost their privileges, if not their lives.
‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’ became the motto of the political
system. After the execution of the king, the country was
re-organised with the national flag we know today and a new
calendar, although this was discontinued. Napoleon Bonaparte used
the tensions of the time to build up an Empire with an efficient
administrative system. However the Empire later collapsed and for a
time the monarchy was restored. In the 19th Century the increase in
wealth from industrialisation was only enjoyed by the upper and
middle classes. The idea of a working class was formed and this
concept swept through all Europe, leading to the Revolution of
1848. During the Second Empire, led by Napoleon’s nephew, there was
rapid industrial and economic growth and the acquisition of the
colonies in Africa and parts of Asia. The two World Wars brought
devastation to France. Members of the wartime Resistance came to
power, hoping to organise a society based on solidarity and justice
including a health service, freedom of the Press and laws to
protect young people. A new appeased Europe was an aim, encouraging
the pooling of resources and commodities, thus laying the
foundation for the European Union. RELIGION The Franks were the
first tribe in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire to convert
to Christianity and they called themselves ’the most Christian
Kingdom in France’. This was in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD and by
the 4th century Christianity was well established. The French
Revolution brought immediate religious freedom, and Napoleon I
brought about religious peace by a Concordat signed by the Vatican
to bring about official status to Protestants and Jews. During and
after the Second World War, Christians and non-believers were
brought together in a fellowship of suffering. Official statistics
of the religions and ethnic origins of citizens have been banned
since 1945. However, continuing opinion polls and surveys have
estimated that the population consists of approximately 62% Roman
Catholic, 3% Protestant, 1% Jewish, 6% Muslim, 1% Buddhist and 27%
of no religious affiliation. Over the past 30 years, various free
church charismatic groups have emerged alongside the ‘historic’
Christian Churches. Taizé in Northern France is a place of welcome
for people from all over the world. It is a place of love,
reconciliation and peace and is well known for its music. Two Taizé
chants are included in our service. Today, Christians are
challenged to witness in a deeply de-Christianized society.
All the Christian churches have been active in welcoming strangers
and foreigners by being in a society based on solidarity with their
sisters and brothers in distress and they encourage the local
churches to welcome foreign ethnic churches. The leaders of French
Christian churches speak and act jointly. In 2010 the French
Federation of Protestant Churches launched an appeal called ‘Let us
stand firm and not let the Right of Foreigners be jeopardised’.
Several UK organisations have outreach programmes in France,
establishing new church congregations and organising youth camps.
ART AND CULTURE The Louvre in Paris is the home of the ‘most famous
painting in the world’ – the Mona Lisa – and France was the home of
many important painters, sculptors, musicians, playwrights and
writers. Molière, Victor Hugo, Debussy, Monet, Cézanne, Le
Corbusier are just a few of the names we are familiar with; you can
go on to name some of your own. Paris is the home of a multitude of
art galleries and museums. It is also the home of the Ballet
Rambert – and the Moulin Rouge! An important part of French culture
is its cuisine. Each region has its own traditional recipes and the
country’s wines and cheeses are famous worldwide. Families, friends
and neighbours enjoy meeting for a gourmet meal as this is an
opportunity to enjoy both good food and good company. On occasions
like this, even the children are allowed to stay up and join in.
French foods we are familiar with are Quiche Lorraine, baguettes,
croissants, batons, ratatouille and frites. Most towns and villages
have a pâtisserie which can be a meeting place where the French
like to enjoy coffee and a cake. Bon appétit! EDUCATION State
schools are secular and free. They accept children from the age of
3 and schooling is compulsory up to the age of 16. The State
controls the curriculum and at any given time of the day, all
pupils in a particular year will be studying the same lesson.
Universities welcome all secondary school graduates. ‘Grandes
Écoles’ or Higher Education Institutes train the country’s
administrative and technical élite. HEALTH The health care system
is available to all and is financed by contributions paid from
everyone’s salary. This covers pensions, health expenses and
work-related accidents. Patients can select their own doctors,
hospitals or private clinics. Optical services and dentistry are
all free, unless there are exceptional items. If private healthcare
is opted for and private health insurance has been paid through an
employer, either fees are not charged at all, or they are charged
and later reimbursed. This access to healthcare has helped increase
life expectancy, but is becoming more costly. The World Health
Organisation ranks France very highly in its provision of
healthcare. POLITICAL ORGANISATION France is a ‘Republic – one and
indivisible’ with a parliamentarian system of a National Assembly
and Senate. The president is elected for five years and can be
re-elected for one further 5 year term. The President appoints the
members of the Government. The judiciary guards its independence
carefully. Part of national sovereignty has been transferred to the
European Union. The political parties range from the Revolutionary
left to the Nationalist extreme right. They accept the principle of
a market economy. France is divided into 26 Régions which are then
sub-divided into 101 Départements, administered by a Préfet who
represents Central Government. A powerful administration forms a
link between the Government and the citizens. Recent devolution of
powers has granted more local power to the Régions.
The country remains centralised. Roads, railways and motorways were
built in the shape of a web, with Paris in the centre. Paris is the
economic, financial and political capital, with 2.2 million
inhabitants. The main TV and radio stations are located here.
POPULATION On 1st January 2010, the total population was nearly 63
million plus 2.5 million living in overseas Départements and
Territories. Increased life expectancy has resulted in an ageing
population. The percentage of those who are 60+ grew from 17% to
22% between 1980 and 2009. Children born on French soil with at
least one French parent are offered French nationality as a ‘right
of birth’. French nationality is granted to another 100,000 each
year regardless of their origin or religion. They must learn the
language and accept the Constitution. They then get Nationality
papers.Originally granted only for one year and very difficult to
obtain, French nationality can be renewed for 3 years, then 10
years. After that, it has to be renewed every 10 years. ECONOMY AND
SOCIAL ISSUES In France there are many small farms. French
agriculture produces an abundance of grain, vegetables, wine and
cattle. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy maintains high prices
for its commodities. This policy is challenged, but farmers resist
any changes. The economy developed in the 19th Century because of
coal and steel. Later, high technology goods, chemical industries
and car and aeronautic production took over. The textile industry
has practically disappeared – as it has in our country also – but
the luxury industries of ‘haute couture’, perfumes and leather
goods have flourished. Railways, the Post Office and education are
directly managed by the State. Large corporations often have
connections with the State. Small enterprises encounter complex
legislation and difficulty in accessing loans. World economic
difficulties give concern to trade unions who fear any social
benefits gained are in jeopardy. Youth unemployment is high,
particularly in immigrant families. This has resulted in protest
movements, some brutal, particularly in deprived urban areas. The
working week is 35 hours and from 2012 the retirement age will be
62 years. In law, men and women doing the same job should be paid
equally, but in reality this doesn’t always happen. There must be
an equal number of men and women employed in a firm and a company
must employ a set percentage of disabled workers. If firms fail to
meet this percentage they are fined, but many prefer to pay the
fine rather than employ the disabled or have women in higher
positions. Women are given 6 months maternity leave, which can be
extended to up to 3 years. Paternity leave paid by social security
can be taken for up to 6 months. WOMEN After obtaining the right to
vote only in 1944, more and more women went into higher education
and the professions, especially from the 1960s onwards, and there
are now as many women in higher education as men. However, women do
not always get equal pay with men for the same job; they are more
likely to be affected by unemployment, and it is more difficult for
them to be employed in decision-making roles. There are fewer women
active in politics, despite a law requiring gender equality.
Contraception has been liberalized, but there are still many
unwanted pregnancies and women are still exposed to sexually
transmitted diseases and AIDS. Although laws enacted in 2006 and
2007 aim to reduce violence against women, this is still a serious
issue. Only about 8% of victims lodge a complaint against the
perpetrator if it is someone close to them. Volunteer organisations
have opened facilities to try to help and advise these victims of
violence.
Very often the job opportunities open to women depend on their
family circumstances. Many qualified women have to put a career on
hold while they look after children. Some women may employ a nanny
to help in the home, and the Government provides public childcare
centres, but these are insufficient in number. Unqualified women
often have to accept what jobs they can get. Foreign women are the
least likely to get work or exercise their rights. Very often they
have to accept jobs in the black economy, which then means that
they have no access to social or unemployment benefits. The reality
of gender equality in France is still a long way off. IMMIGRATION
For many centuries France has relied upon immigration to satisfy
its labour needs. During the 19th and 20th centuries,
industrialisation and the growth of urban centres attracted
builders and miners from Italy and Poland. Spanish workers came to
escape the Spanish Civil War. The former French colonies supplied
whole battalions of soldiers, who then chose to stay in France. In
the 1950’s workers were brought in from Northern and Sub-Saharan
Africa. After the oil crisis of 1974, the Government decided to
build nuclear power plants so as not to be oil dependent. This
caused a surge in unemployment and some politicians blamed this on
the number of immigrant workers. It was decided to phase out
labour-oriented immigration. Because of this, those workers who
came to work just for a few months each year decided to stay in
case their entry visas were refused in future. The Government then
had to authorise family reunification programmes for these workers,
although these families were often housed in suburbs where there
were no opportunities for social integration. France has always
accepted asylum seekers fleeing on political grounds – the
Hungarians, the Chileans and the Vietnamese being some examples.
Almost one quarter of the current population has at least one
foreign grandparent. Foreign workers are issued with a resident’s
card which used to be renewed every 10 years, but now has to be
renewed yearly, fulfilling the new conditions set out. They are
tracked very carefully to ensure they are not entering into
marriages of convenience to obtain a residence permit. If there is
a question mark over the marriage, mayors may request a judicial
enquiry. Even though foreigners have no legal papers, they are
still entitled to medical assistance paid for by the State. Support
for mothers and infants, social assistance, free education and
legal aid are also provided. In 2010, there were 6.7 million
immigrants in France forming 11% of the population. Of these, 34%
were from the European Union; 30% from North Africa; 14% from Asia;
11% from the rest of Africa and the remaining 11% from various
countries. There is a vocal debate at the moment about the growth
of the Muslim population, mostly entering through North Africa.
French demographic projections point to the fact that within one
generation migration will become the sole growth factor for France,
faced with its own ageing population. Many feel France has been
made richer through the extensive contributions of foreign
cultures.
Women’s World Day Of Prayer, Commercial Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
TN1 2RR Web site: www.wwdp-natcomm.org Email:
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