I have read the wiki page and read a few articles but I still cant wrap my head around what this ism exactly means. I understand that it is a very specific thing during a specific time and maybe that’s why I am having trouble.
In: Economics
Gaullism is French nationalist movement where the French saw themselves as a both a historical and current exceptional power, and should focus on themselves. This would include avoid getting into free trade agreements with other countries, allowing French colonies to split away because they were a burden to mainland France, etc. Gaullism called for a strong central power, where the French president had a lot of control over the country and the executive was stronger that the legislative. To support these ideas, Gaullist historians like to focus on moments in history that put France above the rest of the world. These traits seems fairly right wing, but also included leftist elements such liberal views on the economy, trade unions, and stuff like that.
In other words, it was an ultranationalist movement, but one that wasn’t really far right like other nationalist movements of the time. It wasn’t “we want to conquer to the world” nationalism, but more like “we want to control out or own faith” nationalism.
I am not sure what the myth part is suppose to mean. Maybe the myth is how Gaullists tried to portray France as shinning star in history, which is certainly an exageration.
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