(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in France believe globalization has negatively affected their country, according to a poll by TNS Sofres released by Les Gracques and Le Nouvel Observateur. 69 per cent of respondents say that globalization increases environmental problems in the planet, and 68 per cent believe it threatens jobs in France.

Also, 69 per cent of respondents say that globalization allows for a larger variety of products made available in France, and 65 per cent think it leads to the concentration of power in the hands of businesses. Overall, 46 per cent of respondents disagree with the idea that globalization is good for France, and 53 per cent of respondents say globalization is not good for them individually.

Earlier this year, French president Nicolas Sarkozy blamed former British cabinet minister and current European trade commissioner Peter Mandelson for the defeat of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, adding, "A child dies of starvation every 30 seconds and the [European] commission wanted to reduce European agriculture production by 21 per cent during World Trade Organization talks. This was really counterproductive."

Mandelson declared: "I think they are making a point about trade, actually, not a serious analysis of the reasons why the Irish people voted No in the referendum. (...) I think [Sarkozy] is over-simplifying the argument, but he is also pointing his finger in the wrong direction."

On Aug. 7, Gilles Moec, an economist with Bank of America, commented on France’s record-high trade deficit in July, saying, "France has, to a great extent, missed the boat on globalization. (...) Germany has expanded internationally and taken in the emerging markets, in sectors like the auto industry. France, in this regard, is still quite muted."

Polling Data

Do you agree or disagree with each of these statements?

Source: TNS Sofres / Les Gracques / Le Nouvel Observateur
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 French adults, conducted on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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