Moulin Rouge, red wine, champagne and 365 sorts of cheese – for many people France seems to be kind of a lost paradise. The “appreciative” of our neighbours, their savoir vivre and the food traditions exert a big fascination on other countries. Their distinctive culture marked the French stereotype particularly and has worldwide left strong impressions.
Today, it would seem that most of the French population believes itself lofty and superior in the world. By other nations in fact, with an ironic undertone there is often spoken of France as the "Grande Nation". As opposed to the idea at the beginning, the French are habitually perceived as arrogant, nationalistic and elitist.
In the scope of this seminar paper, it subsequently will be necessary to evaluate especially this custom to its verisimilitude and as a result, one will be able to give a response to the question: “How to avoid being the ugly French?”
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Living Like God in France?
- 1.1.2 The French Vice
- 2. Do You Like the French?
- 2.1 France and Germany – Pretended Friendship?
- 2.2 French Boycott in America
- 3. Cultural Analysis
- 3.1 Five-Dimensions-Model by Hofstede
- 3.1.1 Power Distance
- 3.1.2 Individualism vs. Collectivism
- 3.1.3 Masculinity vs. Femininity
- 3.1.4 Uncertainty Avoidance
- 3.1.5 Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation
- 3.1.6 Resume: How are the French?
- 4. Case Analysis
- 4.1 C'est beau la bourgeoisie
- 4.2 "Only French, s'il vous plaîť"
- 4.3 Political faux-pas
- 4.3.1 The Roma Affair
- 4.3.2 Turkey Joining the EU
- 4.3.3 French Cars for France
- 4.3.4 Sarkozy's Migration Policy
- 5. How to Avoid Being the...
- 5.1 ...Arrogant French
- 5.2 ...Xenophobic French
Objectives and Key Themes
This seminar paper aims to investigate the perception of the French in international relations, focusing on the stereotype of the "ugly French" – characterized by arrogance, nationalism, and elitism. It explores the validity of this stereotype by examining France's image in international contexts, analyzing French culture using Hofstede's Five-Dimensions-Model, and examining France's behavior patterns through recent political events.
- France's international image and its relationship with Germany and the United States.
- Analysis of French culture through the lens of Hofstede's cultural dimensions.
- Examination of specific political events to illustrate French behavior patterns.
- The stereotype of the arrogant and xenophobic French.
- Strategies to overcome negative perceptions of the French.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the prevalent, often romanticized, image of France and the French, contrasting it with the negative stereotype of arrogance and elitism. It sets the stage for an investigation into the validity of this negative perception, outlining the paper's structure and approach.
2. Do You Like the French?: This chapter explores the complex relationship between France and Germany, highlighting the officially stated friendship despite underlying tensions and declining interest in French language learning amongst Germans. It also analyzes the strained relationship between France and the United States, particularly during the Iraq War, noting the resulting boycotts and lingering distrust.
3. Cultural Analysis: This chapter delves into a cultural analysis of France using Geert Hofstede's Five-Dimensions-Model. It examines the high power distance index in French society, the relatively high individualism score, and other cultural aspects to explain potential sources of misunderstandings and the perception of French behavior in international contexts. The chapter uses the model to shed light on the French cultural values influencing national and international perceptions.
Keywords
France, intercultural competence, stereotypes, national identity, international relations, Germany, United States, Hofstede's cultural dimensions, power distance, individualism, political behavior, xenophobia, arrogance, cultural analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the overall topic of this document?
This document is a comprehensive language preview of a seminar paper investigating the perception of the French in international relations, specifically addressing the stereotype of the "ugly French" – characterized by arrogance, nationalism, and elitism. It explores this stereotype through cultural analysis, examination of France's relationships with other countries, and analysis of specific political events.
What are the main sections covered in this preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The table of contents details the structure of the paper, outlining the introduction, analysis of France's relationships with Germany and the US, a cultural analysis using Hofstede's model, case studies of specific political events, and concluding thoughts on avoiding negative perceptions.
What is the purpose of the cultural analysis section?
The cultural analysis uses Geert Hofstede's Five-Dimensions-Model to examine French culture and explain potential sources of misunderstandings and perceptions of French behavior internationally. It explores aspects like power distance, individualism, masculinity/femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term/short-term orientation to provide insights into French cultural values influencing national and international perceptions.
Which countries are specifically examined in relation to France?
The preview focuses on France's relationships with Germany and the United States. It highlights both the officially stated friendship with Germany and underlying tensions, as well as the strained relationship with the US, particularly during the Iraq War.
What kind of case studies are included in the analysis?
The case studies illustrate French behavior patterns through recent political events. Examples include the Roma affair, Turkey's bid to join the EU, French car policies, and Sarkozy's migration policy. These cases serve to exemplify the complexities of French behavior in international contexts.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include France's international image, its relationship with Germany and the United States, the application of Hofstede's cultural dimensions to understand French culture, the stereotype of arrogant and xenophobic French people, and strategies to overcome negative perceptions of the French.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: France, intercultural competence, stereotypes, national identity, international relations, Germany, United States, Hofstede's cultural dimensions, power distance, individualism, political behavior, xenophobia, arrogance, and cultural analysis.
What is the overall conclusion suggested by the preview?
The preview suggests an investigation into the validity of negative stereotypes surrounding the French, using both cultural analysis and examination of specific political events to provide a nuanced understanding of French behavior on the international stage. It aims to move beyond simplistic stereotypes and provide a more comprehensive analysis.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Ghanawi (Author), 2010, How to Avoid Being the "Ugly French", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/175042
