Recent events

Kyoto Protocol

George W. Bush’s recent declarations come as a reminder that any advances in this field are subject to the ratification of states despite the involvement of lobbies.

Rioting in Algeria

Significantly, "pouvoir assassin!" (the authorities are assassins!) was the slogan of the day of the rioters who protested against the state’s anti-kabylia prejudice. But the rioters were also calling for a new economic outlook and lamenting the stagnation of reform of state companies and banks, the stifling of entrepreunerial initiatives, the ever-spreading corruption.

In Senegal

The election of a "liberal" to the office of president of the Republic begs the question of how he is planning to go about renovating the shattered public system, in particular education and health. And, apart from this, what measures will he undertake to promote productive systems : agriculture, which he considers a priority, and also industry and services?

In Morocco

A king with a positive image, a government that claims, at least at its summit, to be socialist, but a country where the gap between the rich and the poor (especially in rural Morocco) is tremendous, and where the condition of women is as reactionary as ever (the doctrine of repudiation). How does one reconcile feudalism (the king’s properties)

Korea

Korea, whose economy has come a long way since the 1998 crisis, but is not yet home free. At stake is a newly found balance between the state, companies (big companies, Jaebulls) and banks. Banks are in the midst of major restructuring : they are having trouble playing a more active role in evaluating risks and taking initiatives in their missions. Big companies are having trouble restructuring and focusing their efforts on a few specialties. They need to evolve from family structures to structures that are open to external investors, be they national or foreign. As for the state, it needs to modify its authoritarian and discretionary attitude so as to become more of an instigator and creator of a fertile environment.

In China

The state made a huge effort to educate its population and today 50,000 engineers and university graduates are produced each year (cf. Far Eastern Economic Review, June 14, 2001). Also, none of the French press’s correspondants, though normally very critical, have had much to say about the issue of health care, despite the fact that it concerns the well-being of Chinese citizens. As far as the restructuring of companies and banks goes, it’s difficult to judge what is the degree of progress, particularily in regard to the foundation of collective social security systems at the regional or state levels. These systems are replacing the state companies in the role of welfare provider. We know well that this project is particularily difficult within the framework of this enormous country.

In France

State and the private sector. In France, employers and the government are engaged in a tug-of-war over the reform of unemployment relief, the management of social security, the continuation and reform of the policies of state intervention and parity (a quota system designed to increase the presence of women in the political realm). The tension has become apparent with the implementation of the law establishing the 35-hour work week: employers and certain unions are opposed to the state using funds belonging to the social security treasury to finance this law. The negociations aimed at establishing an agreement over the provisions of the "social modernization" law (a labour law), have resulted in futher tension. With the downsizings announced by Moulinex, Danone, Marks & Spencers, positions vary, even within the Socialist Party, between a traditional marxist view of the state’s role and a more liberal orientation favouring autonomy for companies and a greater flexibility of the 35-hour law. With the French labour movement being weak and organized civil society having trouble taking root, it is all the more difficult to arrive at a new, balanced relationship.

State and Information Technology. The creation of innovative companies has been rescued by public funds. In 1997, the government established a fund to promote capital-risk ventures: 900 million francs in 1998 and 984 million francs in 2000 for investment in private ventures such as Galiléo, Siparez or Banaxi Ventures. Furthermore, The French Agency for Innovation is the state’s primary resource for encouraging companies to invest in technology. Finally, big groups such as France Telecom and Thalès (ex Thomson-CSF) have become permanent fixtures in the capital-risk landscape.

The state and patronage. For a long time, patronage was shared between the state and private foundations. Today, companies are increasingly becoming patrons as well.

State and Education. Ties between secondary schools and the institutions of higher education are becoming more and more prevalent, whether these concern training programs, or the presence of private sector managers as instructors in the DESS, BTS and IUP programs (technical instruction degrees). To be accepted in certain BTS programs, for example, it is necessary to find a position as a paid trainee within a company.

Companies and Health. At a time when the British are questioning the logic of keeping health care wholly within the public realm, the mixed public-private health care system in France is searching for a new balance. Also, the multinational pharmaceutical companies have just accepted (in South Africa) to give up certain rights in order to help impoverished victims of AIDS.

In general, the redistribution of roles is being carried out without the influence of dogma, be it liberal or state-oriented.