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L'obsession anti-americaine: Son fonctionnement, ses causes, ses inconsequences (French Edition)

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Jean-François Revel systematically demonstrates with much talent that some political, cultural and religious elites rather than the population at large have been the key drivers behind anti-Americanism (pg. 248). Think, for instance, about the ongoing power struggle between youth and authorities in Iran (pg. 248-249). The obsession of these elites is nothing new (pg. 21). These elites regularly use Anti-Americanism as a convenient scapegoat to escape from their responsibilities ... and failures (e.g., pg. 24, 58-59, 91, 114, 129). Woe be to all who put that scapegoat on the side as Jean-Marie Colombani experienced after writing his memorable article "We Are All Americans" in the aftermath of 9/11 (pg. 254-255).

The two most striking characteristics of anti-Americanism are evidence selection and internal contradiction of the indictment (pg. 26, 241-242, 257). Some political, cultural and religious elites refuse to contemplate the role that their countries have played in the emergence of the only remaining superpower. The economic, technological, military and cultural leadership of the United States of America results not only from the drive and creativity of Americans but also from the sum of some failures overseas. One can think, for instance, about the emergence and fall of the two worst dictatorships on earth, the worldwide bankruptcy of economic socialism, pauperization of one continent and sub-optimal higher education in some places (e.g., pg. 24, 37-42, 45, 58-59, 80-82, 91, 114-115, 129, 200-202, 300). The USA, however, is not the first civilization that has enjoyed such an indisputable pool position. Athens, Rome, Italy during the Renaissance, France and the United Kingdom were once the leading powers (pg. 32-33). One can add to that list Egypt, Mesopotamia or Spain under the Mores, to name a few. The USA, however, is the first civilization to lead on a worldwide basis what makes some people squealing (pg. 37, 45). The leadership of one nation has not led to uniformity but to cross-fertilization of competing civilizations (pg. 87, 192). One is thus far from the (cultural) rolling mill that some people have recently denounced (pg. 198). At best, everybody but the elites pays for the cultural exception that is only crass and vain protectionism, the lifelong enemy of progress (pg. 185, 189-190, 193-195, 209).

Revel gives a number of other examples to demonstrate to his audience that the sermonizers are often pious hypocrites. Anti-internationalists, who are almost all the primary beneficiaries of globalization, amalgamate the USA with economic liberalism that apparently has nothing good to offer (pg. 271). President George W. Bush recently observed with much pertinence that anti-internationalists are most often the enemies of the third world (pg. 70). Developing countries indeed ask for less protectionism and more liberalization to catch up with the first world (pg. 70-71, 135). Opponents of globalization should also remember what happened between the two world wars when what they are asking for came true: i.e., the 1929 crisis, massive unemployment and rise of the worst dictatorships that humanity has ever known (pg. 41, 80-81). Furthermore, adversaries of economic liberalism should keep in mind that fear increases quickly when economic growth in the USA stalls. Almost everybody hopes that the chief bogeyman turns around the situation ASAP (pg. 61, 245). One can naively hope that in the future anti-internationalists will ask for more globalization on behalf of the poorest countries if they do not want to suffer one day the fate of their predecessors, the Luddites.

Furthermore, Revel shows with much efficiency the illogic of the same elites who have criticized the USA for both unilateralism and isolationism. Furthermore, these elites have been fast to claim credit when things go right and put the blame squarely on the USA in the opposite scenario (pg. 21-22). Think, for example, about American intervention in Europe during and after both world wars (pg. 22), Vietnam (pg. 20-21), call for economic help to "arrogant" America all the time (pg. 75), tough stance of the Reagan Administration against the Evil Empire (pg. 219, 294-295), America cleaning the European mess in the Balkans (pg. 42-43), American policy towards Iraq (pg. 236-237), North Korea (pg. 232-235) and Palestine (pg. 260-265), 9/11 reward for American unilateralism (pg. 131-134, 240), economic protectionism (pg. 241-245).

Revel also clearly demonstrates that some political, cultural and religious elites have tried to blacken the USA, symbol of democratic liberalism, as the exclusive epicenter of a materialistic, unfair, racist, dirty, violent, and fascist society for exempting themselves from any criticism (pg. 30). Think, for instance, about such myths as money the only driver of the American society (pg. 142, 193), absence of any social security and solidarity (pg. 44-45, 145-146), broken democracy (pg. 45-50), unequal criminality (pg. 149) and America, the unique obstacle to a clean environment (pg. 52-56). Anyone staying for a while in the remaining superpower, imperfect as any human creation, will realize quickly that the USA shares, mutatis mutandis, challenges such as racism, inequality, violence, pollution, and corporate misbehavior with many other nations. Most Americans are conscious that their country is not perfect and can always do better as their media regularly point out (pg. 147-151). However, not many countries can brag about the absence of any dictatorship during their entire history (pg. 45-50) and a working melting pot (pg. 165-179), to name a few.

Unsurprisingly, the USA feels that it is invested with a universal, moral mission to be in the driver seat because of a perceived lack of pertinence and rationality in the rest of the world (pg. 61-62, 82-83, 297, 299-300). Ignorance and bath faith, unfortunately, are die-hard obstacles to progress against which humanity seems to be doomed to fight forever because of the free will that it ultimately enjoys.

PS Hopefully, Jean-François Revel's masterpiece will be available in English soon on Amazon.com

At last, In France, a voice raises against the stream of the anti-americanism " well-thinking ". French believe they invented the Human Rights but, despite Voltaire, Montesquieu, Tocqueville, Bastiat, and many others, they ignored the essence of the liberalism. From communists to nationalists, including socialists and gaullists, they misunderstand the spirit of America.
This book, with a gentle sense of humour, and many opportune references, is a source of jubilation. One by one, all the bloody stupidities and insanities accumulated since so many years, fall in dust. And little by little, JF Revel shapes a righter image of this great nation to which we so much owe. A true event in the briny marsh of the generally accepted ideas !
It should be hoped that this comforting speech will contribute to let american people know that some french hold them in great esteem, and cherish with them, Democracy and Freedom !

A must for all those who want to understand the absurd and ununderstandable French position over Iraq.
By a strange coincidence I'm reading this book at the moment where tensions between Europe (particularly France and Germany) and the US are at a historical high. It is astonishing to see how clearly this book, written before these tension developped, explains them. As a French national, I'm deeply grateful to JF Revel to express so clearly that not all French are misinformed or disinformed anti-american dummies; that some (among which I am proud to be) can see through the web of lies cast by die-hard marxists who have not accepted the utter failure of socialism, rabbid far-right extremist convinced that the US is a puppet in the hands of Israel and a conservative right-wing, heir of the fiercely independant General De Gaulle for whom it is more desirable to fail on its own rather than owe its successes to its friends.

It is difficult for anglo-saxons, used to a very independant and investigative press, to imagine how public opinions can be manipulated on such topics as America and American policies by obedient media, especially when other sources of information are not available as very few people speak english. Let's hope this book (hopefully to be translated in english very soon) will have the US realize that there IS a problem with some European countries, but with their so-called elites (a strange name for people responsible of so many failures), rather than their people.

Now that we are in the middle of an other crisis between the U.S. and the rest of the World, Mr. Revel's book comes in handy to put things in their just perspective.

Like Reagan when he asked Gorbatchev to "tear down that wall", Bush has been ridiculed from the beginning in many countries, particularly in France. He's been called a "cowboy", "simplist", etc. According to "Old Europe", he should have listened to them, with their great experience... After all, they know about human tragedies... They had two World Wars, two of the greatest fascists of History -- Hitler and Stalin --, a never-ending mess in the Balkans... Quite a résumé to say the least...
They obviously are the ones who how to handle such things.

Mr. Revel will tell it better than me. The book is well documented, to the point. He great read to anybody who wants to make his opinion and understand how the world came to show such division in the face of grave danger.

Combine Sanche de Gramont's disdain for the French 'intelligentsia's' pedantry and intellectual dishonesty with Andre Maurois' appreciation of the anglo-saxon model and you might obtain something akin to M. Revel's latest book. In "L'Obsession Anti-Americaine" M. Revel exposes very methodically the lies, ignorance and feelings of envy and inadequacy on which is based the French left and extreme right's anti-american rhetoric. He backs his claims with copious examples and evidence. For those who love America and appreciate it's contribution to the world this book will come as a breath of European fresh air. Without ever being petty, and in beautifully fluid french prose, M. Revel 'sets the record straight'. One hopes that he speaks for a somewhat silent majority. Whether you buy it in French or wait for the translation, this book is a must for anyone interested in Franco-American relations.

Revel set the record straight, regarding the failure of Europe to appreciate how the geopolitical context has deeply change since 9-11. What has NOT change one bit, is the rabid antiamericanism of the European elites, (he is especially critical of the French) which blind them to the necessity to deal with the terrorism threat in a very firm and decisive way.

True to his acerbic and rigorous style, Revel has done it once again: dispel myths with numbers, coherent arguments and abundant references.

To those interested by geopolitics, I highly recommend this book. It has not been translated in English yet, but it is only a matter of time. I'd ventured to predict it'll be a success as great as "Whitout Marx or Jesus"

American readers may be surprised to discover that this putatively pro-American book reached the best-seller list in France. It is written by a French intellectual and journalist who, at nearly eighty years of age, knows the United States well (having written on the same subject nearly three decades ago in a book called Ni Jesus Ni Marx or, in English, Without Jesus or Marx ). The global position of the United States having evolved considerably since his previous book, Revel takes a fresh look at this question in a larger context of debates worldwide on globalization, and not just U.S. society and foreign policy.

Published about a year after the events of September 11, 2001, the book takes a fresh look at the root causes of anti-Americanism, particularly in France, but also, to some extent, in Europe and the rest of the world, although some critics in France argue that he uses the book to pursue his own hidden political bias against certain French elites and domestic policies.

Revel examines the mixed and often contradictory dual sense of envy and contempt that the United States inspires abroad, seeking to identify which of these attitudes are objectively based. He generally contends that it was this long-established ambivalent set of feelings outside the Untied States, and not the aftermath of 9/11, which underlies the resurgence of negative attitudes to the United States.

Revel's style is full of irony and paradox as he takes on subjects as diverse as attitudes on globalization, foreign fears of cultural extinction from Americanisms, and foreign policy. He sees in the anti-globalization debate a deeper resentment of American ideals of economic free-market liberalism. He challenges the demonstrators at the Seattle WTO meeting or at other anti-globalziaiton rallies which periodically sprout up, to look at the contradiction between their assault on so-called unbridled market ideology of free trade and the real attempts of the WTO to create rules of trade which most developing countries are seeking to join. In an interesting final chapter, Revel blames the anti-americanism of foreign governments as actually bolstering the American superpower status which they revile.

To characterize this book as pro-American simply beause it challenges a wide range of attitudes that have broadly come to be seen as anti-American is to misunderstand some of the arguments Revel makes. There is some interesting historical and sociological analysis which makes reading this book a few times worthwhile if you wish to decode contemporary attitudes to the United States in a much deeper and, ultimately, more illuminating historical framework of understanding.

This is a splendid fact-laden account and explanation of French anti-Americanism. Jean Francois Revel is a French philosopher, member of the French Academy, former editor of the French newsmagazine L'Express, and author of thirty previous books.
Unfortunately, it is only available in French. Americans need an English translation so they can understand the French determination to thwart and embarrass America. Revel attributes French malice toward America primarily to two factors: 1) jealousy and 2) our capitalist economy.
Since most of France's chattering class are socialists or communists, they ignore any creditable accomplishments of the U.S., magnify any failures, and fabricate others.
Until this book is available in English, you can read THE FRENCH, PORTRAIT OF A PEOPLE by Sanche de Gramont. It was published in 1969 but is still enlightening.

(publié plus tôt sur amazon.fr)


Ce livre est écrit dans une mode intelligent et humoreux. M. Revel, qui était chef du bureau français de Time il y a des années, défend les peuples et la politique étrangère américaine contre des plaintes habituelles. Je peux dire, mon expérience en tant que travailleur social aux EEUU, Revel a raison. Il écrit, par exemple, que les plupart des familles qui sont immigrés aux ÉEUU d'un autre pays ne veulent pas seulement la culture de leurs pays d'origines pour ses enfants: ils veulent que leurs enfants réussirent dans la société américaine. Pour ça, il faut apprendre la langue, l'histoire, et les politiques américains même comment les maths et les sciences. Et c'est vrai, comme M. Revel nous dit, que les enseignements bilingues avancées par les écoles américains il y a une dizaine d'années leurs donnaient l'inverse : c'est pourquoi les familles étrangères ici ont voté contre ça mesure (C'est seulement un exemple dans ce livre ; une liste des choses dont M. Revel et moi sont au même avis serait plus longue pour l'espace ici.)

Revel contre aussi les pensées européennes sur les politiques domestiques, comme sur le chômage des jeunes gens arabes (encore, il écrit que c'est nécessaire d'enseigne le français official bientôt qu'un élève étranger s'apport à la classe pour trouver la résolution de ce problème) et sur l'accroissement des taxes pour choses qui sont (maintenant) à l'Amérique encore la responsabilité du marché libre.

Je suis voyagée à la France plusieurs fois, et je n'ai pas y remarqué une "obsession anti-américaine." Les gens sont du bon et du mauvais partout. Mais je sais absolument qu'il y a une obsession anti-américaine ici aux États-Unis, et je veux acheter beaucoup des éditions anglais de ce livre, seulement pour leurs donner aux mes anti-américains favoris.

Quelle belle description d'une vérité trop dure à admettre pour certains: Le capitalisme est la voie et les USA sont les leaders.

Revel nous fait une excellente description de ce qui est, selon lui, la cause de l'anti-américanisme moderne, c-à-d, l'échec du modèle socialiste (le communisme moderne) et/ou totalitarisme et/ou dictature sanglante.

Il décrit très bien comment les organisations anti-mondialisation sont des organes anti-américaine qui prennent naissance grace à la démocratie contre celle-ci et comment ces groupes garde leur pouvoir grace aux mensonges. Son récit du comment la France et l'Europe sont devenu pathétiquement misérable et comment la guerre du Viet-nam est d'abord un échec Francais vous galvaniseront des commentaires haineux des antis.

Aussi, si vous voulez plus de chiffres pour voir les bienfaits de la démocratie capitalistique, lisez "Plaidoyer pour la mondialisation capitalistique de Norberg" ou "In defence of globalization de Bhagwati".