France Versus the World

First broadcast April 2007

The French maintain that they - their culture, their social model and their foreign policy - are exceptional. But for how much longer?

In this four-part series, Lucy Ash takes a forensic look at the position France occupies on the world stage, how it defines citizenship and the way globalisation is threatening to undermine its cultural heritage.

Part three: Agriculture and Rural France

In the third programme in this series, Lucy Ash investigates the changes afoot for French agriculture and for the French countryside.

The Common Agricultural Policy has been operating in Europe since 1962. French farmers are the biggest beneficiaries of the policy, which makes up forty per cent of the European Union's total budget.

During his time in office, Jacques Chirac has been a vigorous defender of France's farmers and the amount of financial help they receive from Europe's agricultural budget. President Chirac managed to prevent substantial reform of the CAP, arguing that it is good for France and for the World.

French farmers still benefit from popular support and are imbued with the special status as custodians of the countryside. But for how much longer?

Even many French farmers are now saying that the Common Agricultural Policy does not work, that it benefits the few and is damaging the environment.

Series Producer: John Murphy

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