The political culture of social consensus and social conflict: the example of European economic integration and globalisation in Ireland and France

The major public sector strikes which hit France in late 1995 saw their protagonists attack the government of Prime Minister Alain Juppé for introducing social security reforms in a bid to reduce the country’s budget deficits in order to conform with the Maastricht convergence criteria for Economic and Monetary Union. Thus, the wavering public support within France for the country’s European policy, which had first exhibited stresses at the time of the Maastricht Treaty referendum in 1992, was confirmed as a significant factor in social protest in France, and illustrated the extent to which the sacrifice of a French model of economic and social progress for one which is pinned to international liberalism, can be a source of widespread public and political disquiet in that country. This thesis examines and compares the evident French concerns and protests over such economic and social questions with the apparent absence of such concerns in Ireland, through an analysis of the political culture in both societies based on available theories, and observations regarding the factors governing their social and political consciences. It concurs with the viewpoint that the apparent consensus regarding these issues in Ireland stems from a view that no other realistic option is open to the country, however it contends that factors such an historically weak left wing, the strength of Catholic social policy and previous experience of self-sufficiency are significant factors informing this ‘consensus’