The question is comparative. That is, "great power" is not a flat out measurable standard but rather a comparison to the other nations in the world. By that standard, France remains a great power. To be be sure, not what it was circa 1900, but still well qualifying.
In a world of over 200 countries, France brings considerable assets to bear. She remains the 6th largest industrialized economy in the world and a major trading nation. Her armed forces are, for a variety of reasons not all of which are under her control, smaller in number than what they used to be, but are still highly trained, technologically sophisticated and well led. This especially seen in French interventions in places like Chad, Lebanon, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
In that connection, France still retains a smattering of overseas possessions that assist in giving it an independent global reach. With a network of actual or potential military bases worldwide that Paris may access without recurrence to the permission of other powers.
To all this add France's independent nuclear weapons arsenal. Although smaller than the American, Chinese or Russian arsenals, it is not inconsiderable and is capable of inflicting inordinate damage on an attacking power. Further, as it is based on a triad, the French arsenal would be apt to survive an enemy first strike and thus has a considerable deterrent effect.
This give France considerable assets and allows her to leverage not inconsiderable diplomatic weight, especially in the context of the European Union. Although there are some costs in sovereignty in relation to the EU, France has been able to use its position within that entity to leverage, through the euro, German economic weight - the 4th largest economy in the world - to advance French military and foreign policy interests.
To be sure, this is more ambiguous in some respects than it sounds. As noted, the EU compromises French sovereignty to some extent and this, in turn, can limit French freedom of action on a global scale.
Further, the French population - like that of most industrialized countries - is aging and therefore the workforce, and thus the number of taxpayers, is shrinking relative to population. As is the number of potential military age recruits, thus limiting the armed forces in both the aforementioned numbers as well as the military budget.
Further, all this will tend to vary across time. Where French diplomacy has been adept, it has been able to rally around it a coalition of allies, formal and informal, that enhance French power and global diplomatic influence. Further in periods of relative internal turmoil - and fair or not, the French have a reputation for being ungovernable - France's ability to project its power and influence is compromised.
Still, add this all up, and there are other factors, pro and con, not listed here, and France, compared to other nations in the world, retains considerable weight and influence, sufficient to merit its ranking among the great powers. Again, to be sure, not to the degree that it was in 1900 for example, let alone in the early 19th century, but in a world of over 200 countries, France must be ranked among the big powers.
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Economically, what's left of the Rothschild family which was one of the biggest banking institutions in the World for a few centuries. Politically, France has wrestled with the fall out of their North African occupation and continues to wrestle with the problem as their are many Arabs who are French citizens. France had a true revolution. They overthrew a way of life, the aristocracy and was much more of a revolution than the US pissing contest about taxes but they went a bit overboard with blood letting. France was no worse than other colonial powers in Africa but held on too long. Algeria was supporting them during WW II as de Gaulle's bastion but brought a great deal of dishonor on themselves with their behavior in North Africa and Indochina. France gave the US 2 big gifts 1 was the statue of liberty, 2 was the war in Vietnam. ve w/o Germany
It hasn't been a big issue for France recently but being the EEC and Europe in general couldn't survive w/o Germany. Culturally and in most artistic fields are probably France's major contribution to the world. The French know how to enjoy life. They insist on 6 weeks vacation year, they probably have the most extensive cradle to grave social system but that is collapsing under the weight of itself.
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Yes definitely
a lot of people are not aware of the various missions France gets involved in.
mainly as they are not covered in depth.
They have 30,000 troops deployed over seas.
They also have their own independent nuclear deterrent
They have the largest armed forces in the EU, the 6th in the world.
unlike some EU countries (cough,, Germany) they deploy combat troops in active combat roles.
They have naval and aviation force projection - handful in the world can do the same.
They also spend more than any other EU nation on Defence budget.I would say so, But what they are powerful at can be hard to determine. They have a strong cultural identity, a high population, a high standard of living, a high gdp, They are very self-sufficient agriculturally.
That being said, it's kind of hard to compare them to the USA or Russia or China which are massive countries with massive militaries and massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
If I had to make a list of the top 10 countries in the world just overall, they're definitely in the top 10. Not the strongest or the richest, but definitely one of the places that people would like to beMilitary? Yeah, not the most powerful but up their. Economically? Eh, I don't know enough to say precisely but from what I hear they are having some serious issues (from what I can tell due to Macron mostly). Politically? Again, I can't really say, but I would hazard a guess that yeah, maybe not in the top three but again, they are up their.
They're starting to be again. I was losing faith in the once gutsy France. but Macron is finally starting to go after the Muslims and Snowflakes.
And I recently read that a bunch of Leftist Arabs did a sit in at a university and blocked students from getting to class for their exams, and the Dean got pissed and send 3 students in there with wooden planks and baseball bats. And when they were finished with the beating, the dean and other professors were cheering. And the highest punishment recieved was only 1 year of house arrest.
I was like YESSSSSSSS! THAT'S the France I once loved.They are still like... Renault. Legacy and such but not that big compare to the rest of the world.
Renault still owns a big chunk of Nissan though. Even though they don't have enough power to control it. Good investment I say.Absolutely not. it's a middling power, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But being in the EU and under German domination isn't compatible with being a great power.
Yes but not for much longer. France has a racial time bomb that will inevitably shift the country to a third world status, similar to what happened in South Africa.
Yes. Despite it's problems it's still very important in both weapons development and diplomatic relations.
If we are to believe that main Soft Power ranking, France comes in at first in the world with soft power
Sorry no :( Not since Mbappe missed that penalty against the Swiss.
Economic yes. Political I don't know, it must have something to do with the European Union and how important they are, and they make part of G7.
Militarily, France hasn't been a serious threat since Napoleon. Economically, I think they are powerful. Politically, they are just another EU puppet.
Obviously no, I'd be hesitant to call them a regional power. They're reliant on foreign powers for much of their economy and imports.
They're very influential in Europe, second only to Germany. They don't aspire to the military might of a superpower such as America, Russia or China.
They might be in the top ten depending on the metric involved
Yes it is, it has a decent gdp and most importantly : a big amount of nuclear warheads.
Not even the US can engage in a war without serious damage.They don't have either a large military or commercial advance, so no.
I've met some powerful French people. People who can single handedly stop the Tour de France with nothing more than a cardboard sign.
Yes, France still has a lot of economic and political power around the world.
It has the right flag cours but is full of IndoAvgani terrorists and crooks.
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