FRENCH EUROSCEPTICISM: HISTORY AND THE PRESENT TIME

Abstract

The phenomena of euroscepticism in France is analyzed in the paper. The participation of France in key projects of the European construction is examined. The models combining supranational initiatives with French national interests are described in this context. Main differences between federalist project of J. Monnet and R. Schumann and confederalist plans of Ch. de Gaulle and F. Mitterrand. The positions of French eurosceptical parties and movements and second half of XX century are researched. The particularities of evolution for leftish eurosceptics are analyzed in the cases of the French Communist party, Trotskyist forces, left souverenists and antiliberal left of J-L. Mélenchon. The specifics of development for right-side eurosceptics is outlined by the examples of Gaullist parties, right neogaullist souverenists, ultra-right conservative and antiglobalist forces including the National Front. Common and different features in the agendas of leftish and right-wing eurosceptics are shown, the referendum agenda of 2005 is among them. Contemporary trends in the development of French eurosceptics, their positions and social base in the presidential elections of 2017 are examined. The author concludes that despite the rising of leftish and right-wing eurosceptics, electoral alliances between them could be just tactical. The promotion of common candidate by both leftish and right-wing eurosceptics seems to be unrealistic in the near future – as well as the French “exit” from EU. Nevertheless eurosceptics – the ones who reflect protest sentiments – will keep influencing the French society: they will force the establishment reacting to urgent issues promoted by eurosceptic agenda.

Keywords

• france
• european union
• european integration
• euroscepticism
• political parties