France and the spirit of capitalism 1 July 2005

In one of a series of articles on Ireland’s economic miracle (“Follow the Leapin’ Leprechaun,” New York Times, 1 July 2005), Thomas Friedman argues that France and Germany will have to follow Ireland’s lead in adopting the less regulated Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism – or face economic extinction (“become museums”). This can be more easily said than done, though. Yesterday, I sat down to fill out a recommendation form for a former student. It came from a top French institute of international studies, and contained the usual list of qualifications I needed to assess. There was, however, a marked departure from the no-nonsense approach evident in similar forms issued by US institutions. The second item I had to evaluate was “culture générale” (something quire irrelevant in the US), followed by “esprit d'analyse” and “esprit de synthèse” (literally “spirit of…”). I am wondering if there might be some cultures which cannot fully adapt to the rigors of free-market capitalism, even if their members are eager to follow Friedman’s advice. In addition to France and Germany, I am thinking Japan, India, South and Southeast European countries, maybe others I am less familiar with. But – this is how the relative success of all societies and cultures is going to be judged in the future that lies ahead.