What is Gaullism?
Gaullism grew out of the ideas and actions of General Charles de Gaulle, who led Free France in the Second World War and founded the Fifth Republic. At its heart is a certain idea of France as a country that must stay independent and be taken seriously by the world. It wants a strong state with a president above party quarrels, who speaks directly to the people. It combines national pride and order with a pragmatic approach to the economy. It was never a strict doctrine, and it is as much a style of leadership as a program.
Core beliefs
- France needs independence in defence and foreign policy.
- The state must be strong and above party interests.
- The president should be chosen by the whole people and hold real power.
- Referendums let the leader bind the people to national decisions directly.
- The state should guide the economy in key areas, while leaving room for private business.
- Social peace comes from working together, such as sharing profits with workers.
History
On 18 June 1940, de Gaulle spoke on the radio from London and urged the French to carry on fighting after the fall of France. He led the Free French and headed the first government after liberation, then left office in 1946. In 1947 he founded a movement, the RPF, but it faded. The crisis over Algeria brought him back in 1958, and a new constitution created the Fifth Republic. In 1962 Algeria became independent, and the same year a referendum brought direct election of the president. De Gaulle vetoed British entry to the common market in 1963 and withdrew France from NATO's military command in 1966. France tested its own nuclear weapons from 1960. After the unrest of May 1968 and a lost referendum, he resigned in 1969. Georges Pompidou, and later parties such as the UDR and RPR, carried on the tradition.
Variants
Historians describe a social Gaullism, which stressed worker participation and sharing profits, and a more conservative Gaullism, which stressed order and the state. After de Gaulle's death in 1970, the tradition split between those who followed Pompidou's modernising and business friendly path and those like Philippe Seguin who defended the nation state against European integration. Some strands moved toward economic liberalism in later decades. Today the label is claimed by parties on the centre-right, and by some people on the left who admire de Gaulle's independence.
Criticisms
Critics on the left said Gaullism concentrated power in one man and sidelined parliament, a charge made against the 1958 constitution. Others found its claim to stand above parties to be a cover for conservative rule. Opponents of its foreign policy said it was arrogant toward allies, and that its nuclear force was too costly. Its handling of the Algerian war, which involved torture and mass violence by French forces, is also criticised. Supporters reply that it gave France stable government after years of unstable coalitions, and ended a colonial war.
In practice
The Fifth Republic, with its strong president, still shapes French politics and has been copied in part elsewhere. French independence in nuclear weapons and a distinct voice in foreign affairs are Gaullist legacies. On the 12 axes it scores very strongly toward Strength on Foreign policy and toward Central on Structure. It also scores toward National identity on Culture, and toward Strong leader on Authority. On Markets it leans slightly toward Planned.