8 - A society under stress

Summary

Introduction

The trente glorieuses – a period of unprecedented prosperity, social mobility and job security (particularly between 1955 and 1975) – were to be followed by a prolonged crise d’adaptation as successive governments attempted to come to terms not only with the problems caused by the oil crises of the 1970s but with the more fundamental and multifaceted impact of globalisation and of a ‘third’ industrial revolution. The markets for goods and services, and those for capital and labour, were transformed by technological innovations, which resulted in massive reductions in the cost of communication and transport. The market-integrating impact was reinforced considerably through the further development of the European Union as well as the outcome of wider international agreements to reduce barriers to trade. The growth of global capitalism offered new economic opportunities, but within a much more competitive environment. Change was constant and had a massive impact on culture as well as material goods. The development of a consumer society and of a commitment to personal fulfilment thus proceeded apace. Moreover, whilst the state continued to possess a substantial capacity for intervention, multinational corporations, market forces and the imperative need to promote competitiveness in the developing global economy challenged its capacity for autonomous action and even its ability to safeguard the welfare of its citizens. Together with shorter-term crises, structural change caused high levels of unemployment, especially amongst the young and ethnic minorities, and intensified the difficulty of funding social relief as well as the pensions and healthcare of an ageing population. Social inequality was especially evident in the shortcomings of the educational system. As a result of these factors, national sovereignty, the welfare state and even the distinctiveness of French culture appeared to be menaced.