{"id":127442,"date":"2024-11-29T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/metamorphoses-francaises\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:03:15","slug":"metamorphoses-francaises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/metamorphoses-francaises\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u00e9tamorphoses fran\u00e7aises"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With his strong datasets, striking prose, and cheerful curiosity, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Fourquet is undoubtedly one of the best analysts of contemporary France. After L\u2019Archipel fran\u00e7ais<\/em> (2019) and La France sous nos yeux<\/em> (2021), co-authored with fellow essayist Jean-Laurent Cassely, he now offers us a kind of trend report of the dynamics that he tracks. This book [French Transformations: The State of France in Infographics and Images<\/em>] is more visual than his others, with sketches, photos, maps, and brief commentaries, which come together to create a fascinating portrait of the transformations so perfectly revealed by the author.<\/h6>
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Fourquet<\/span> J\u00e9r\u00f4me, M\u00e9tamorphoses fran\u00e7aises. \u00c9tat de la France en infographies et en images,<\/em> Paris: Seuil, 2024, 208 p.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \"\"\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

This new work demonstrates the quality of his focus and his method for using significant facts and figures to understand the major shifts in a country that is dechristianizing, Americanizing, becoming more polarized, and above all, undergoing profound transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without the slightest academic pedantry, the author acts as the geographer of territories reshaped by low-cost transport and remote working, which are being reconfigured as families and the economy change. He is the economist of a France whose driving force is shifting from production to consumption. Fourquet illustrates this move to a society of leisure and entertainment by reminding us that the iconic Renault factory in Boulogne-Billancourt permanently closed at the end of March 1992, while Euro Disney opened its doors just a few days later, in early April. He also serves as an anthropologist and sociologist of France, his deep affection palpable in every well-crafted page filled with compelling data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To illustrate this, let us select a few points that are particular favourites of the author, owing to their significance. His study of first names is particularly enlightening regarding the phenomenon of \u201carchipelization,\u201d or at least that of differentiation. In 1918, newborns were distributed among 1,600 first names. In 2021, this number was almost ten times higher: 13,500 different names were given. In 1918, only a tiny number of newborn boys were given an Arab-Muslim first name. In 1945, this number was still only 0.2%. This rose to 7% in 1983 and over 20% in 2021. Of course, concept and category purists will find fault in the details of the methodology. However, nothing suggests that these figures are not valid. This indicator clearly highlights a huge transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still looking at the family, Fourquet points out trends that everyone should keep in mind. In 1980, 10% of children were born outside of marriage. Except during the two World Wars, this proportion changed little during the twentieth century until the 1970s. Over four decades, however, the proportion of what were once called \u201cillegitimate\u201d children has risen every year. In 2022, 65% of births were to parents who were not married (in civil partnerships or cohabiting). It is worth noting that, of all the countries in the Western world, France is the leader in this trend. We can continue this examination by looking at the younger generation, who represent the future. In 1960, four in five children (among those aged seven or under) were baptized. This number has fallen to just one in four. In terms of spirituality, the French are becoming more diverse. Looking beyond the major religions, Fourquet likes to note the growing importance of shamanism, witchcraft, and yoga. The latter, which was once the preserve of a small, New Age population, is now practiced, at least occasionally, by one-fifth of French men and a quarter of French women. According to the author, France is now experiencing a \u201cspiritual maelstrom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A particularly telling development, relating to both fundamental philosophical considerations and the perception of the body (in a country where more than a fifth of people have at least one tattoo), concerns funerals. Like for births outside of marriage, the changes are recent and show a marked annual progression. The increase in cremations is one of the biggest social transformations at work: They accounted for 1% of funerals in 1980, compared to over 40% today. This rapid evolution, with notable repercussions in many domains, reflects profound changes in how people think about death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examining the socio-professional domain (which is less spectacular in metaphysical terms but essential for everyday life and the structuring of the country), Fourquet returns to the strong image of what he has previously called \u201cthe greatest social plan that France has ever known.\u201d The number of farmers has fallen from 1.6 million in 1970 to 650,000 in 2000 and less than 400,000 in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to culture, including food and diet, the author observes the addition of American, Maghrebi, and Asian layers. Of course, there are strong generational effects that influence eating habits and tastes in food: Less than 20% of people in their seventies or older eat kebabs, compared to around 80% of people in their thirties or younger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a pollster, and since the political world, like the French in general, is fond of percentages and information about votes and parties, Fourquet highlights the historic collapse of the Communist Party and the red suburbs. Revisiting the Catholic question, he summarizes it elegantly: The \u201cDon Camillo\/Peppone[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u202fmatrix\u201d has been dismantled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, this 2024 publication demonstrates Fourquet\u2019s many talents as a tireless observer and commentator. Drawing on data from public statistics and from surveys (particularly those of his employer, IFOP\u2014the French national market research agency), the author presents them skilfully, in a valuable endeavour. From all this work emerges an overview of the situation in France and how it is changing, far more effectively than armies of civil service sociologists or economists ever could. There will always be quibblers looking to find fault with details, splitting hairs over theoretical claims. Activists will look for ideological choices or a political project. To some extent, this is a good thing, because it allows Fourquet not only to provide documented facts, but also to spark debate on crucial subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translated and edited by Cadenza Academic Translations (translator: Julia Bilby, editor: Marie Cloux, senior editor: Mark Mellor)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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    In reference to the series of short stories and later humoristic films from the 1950s, centered around the rivalry between Peppone, a recently elected communist mayor, and Don Camillo, a committed rural priest (editor\u2019s note). \u2191<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    With his strong datasets, striking prose, and cheerful curiosity, J\u00e9r\u00f4me Fourquet is undoubtedly one of the best analysts of contemporary France. After L\u2019Archipel fran\u00e7ais (2019) and La France sous nos yeux (2021), co-authored with fellow essayist Jean-Laurent Cassely, he now offers us a kind of trend report of the dynamics that he tracks. This book … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":99762,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[131],"tags":[212],"keyword":[925,859,897,1018,966,891],"class_list":["post-127442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-seen-heard","tag-societe-en","keyword-identite-culturelle-en","keyword-france-en","keyword-modes-de-vie-en","keyword-changement-social-en","keyword-analyse-sociologique-en","keyword-systeme-de-valeurs-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127442"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127767,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127442\/revisions\/127767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127442"},{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.futuribles.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=127442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}