what is your opinion about french socialism in general as a ideology?

Answer 1

Really is impossible to evaluate French socialism without comparing with the US. Despite my die hard bias for the US, I am alarmed at the decrease in social mobility to the point of the American belief that anyone can reach the upper crust is nearly (only nearly) a farce. Among many economist calls for action, including Samuelson and Greenspan, the Economist did a special issue looking at the decrease in low to upper class mobility over the past 15 years. One columnist discussed how France now even offers their poorest 20% a better chance of acheiving the upper 20% in their lifetime than the US. No disrespect to the French,... but FRANCE?!? The American dream isn't what it used to be.
I think, in my cloistered business (not political science) academic perspective, that the French form of Socialism is more concerned with egalitarian opportunity rather than what we here in US deride as redistributive welfare state. I'm not exactly sure what the nuts and bolts are that distinguish "french" socialism from "swedish" or "finnish" socialism, but I am sure that the French culture does manifest itself in the difference. After looking at cultural differences across national boundaries, as well as working with and being absolutely livid with French idiosyncrasies, bottom line is they do believe in equality as a people, much more so than we in the US do. We Americans see ourselves as a moral people, as do the French, it seems however, the French evaluate success in units other than currency. This leads to what we see as inefficiency and laziness. But, this point of view is too easy. We should think about this a little while we are working our a$$es off for the handful of folks who have a lot of money already and are trying to convince us how dangerous the "death tax" is for our own good.

Answer 2

Do you mean recently? I think France have had some of the best socialist gov ever… the have a really strong middle class… well educated, with high social security standards… and also very involved in democracy… So… the biggest challenge will come in a few years with the huge immigration from the third world…
So, seeing it just as an ideology I think it has been a strong one and very functional on real life. European socialism, in general, not only French, has been according to me, a great system.