France in limbo: On the struggles over accumulation strategies in models of capitalism – The case of the pacte de responsabilité

In January 2014, France’s socialist president announced a major turn in his crisis exit strategy, the pacte de responsabilité, providing up to €35 billion in tax reductions to companies. By analysing the discourses of different actors of the left bloc (trade unions and parties), I seek to show how France is currently struggling with the accumulation strategy at the base of the French model of capitalism. While some actors of the left bloc pursue the continuation or strengthening of an accumulation strategy led by internal demand, others are accepting of or pursuing the export orientation favoured by supranational actors like the EU. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the path of capital-friendly austerity that bolsters export orientation will be a successful strategy for Hollande and for France’s political economy