The British understanding of economic life, according to de Gaulle, was also incompatible with Europe’s. The British economy was driven by private investment, innovation and risk-taking. Continental economies had a much more intimate relationship with the state, which helped shape the direction of the economy and cushioned the impact of capitalism on workers. The state’s relationship to the market, therefore, was also very different. De Gaulle did not see the state as intruding on the nation but as the embodiment of the nation.

Interesting read! I'm currently studying in France, and I must say it's fascinating to watch this all unfold from a European perspective. I'm doing my best to consume news in French (though here I am on an English-language site, what can I say) and though I'm reading from sources that have similar political leanings to what I read at home in the States, I've been struck by how differently Brexit is being covered.

Intriguing that de Gaulle saw the UK as a "black sheep" of sorts all along...

posted 1847 days ago