Macron at Davos: 'Respect' for Whom, Monsieur Président?
📰 THE STORY: French President Emmanuel Macron told the Davos elite that the world 'prefers respect to bullies,' calling for global cooperation and decrying those who would 'fragment' the international order. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: France's post-colonial record is rife with 'bullying.' Consider the 'Françafrique' system, where France maintained extensive economic,
political, and military influence over its former African colonies for decades after their nominal independence. This includes military interventions in nations like Côte d'Ivoire (2002, 2011) and Mali (2013), often to protect French corporate interests in resources like uranium and oil. The CFA franc, a currency used by 14 African nations tethered to the Euro, forces these countries to keep 50%
of their foreign reserves in the French Treasury, effectively subsidizing France's economy. This is hardly an emblem of 'respect.' Double Standard: Macron's condemnation of 'bullies' is selectively applied. France continues to be a major arms exporter, including to regimes with questionable human rights records. While lamenting global fragmentation, France pushes its own neocolonial agenda,
particularly in Africa where its influence is increasingly challenged by rising powers like China and Russia. The 'bullies' Macron refers to are typically those challenging the existing Western-dominated global order, not those perpetuating it, including France itself. Follow the Money: French corporations, some represented at Davos, directly benefit from this system. Companies like Areva (now