France in times of the “responsibility and solidarity pact”: “Neoliberal normalization” or a laboratory of new resistance?

Abstract

Frédéric Moulène provides an examination of how marketization has gained support in France, even though the country has historically been amongst the most reluctant to embrace neoliberalism. The starting point to Moulène reflections is the socialist government’s recent Responsibility and Solidarity Pact, which provides generous tax cuts to companies in return for their contributions to job creation. The chapter builds on Polanyian theoretical concepts to develop an original analysis of political communication in the wider context of pertinent French experiences and debates.