Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Baudrillard on Disaffected France

According to Jean Baudrillard, social integration is a problem for immigrants and native Europeans alike. Writing in the wake of the 2005 riots that raged across France last fall, Baudrillard offers a grim assessment of the prospects for the European Union, which suffered a setback in May 2005 when Europeans voted 'No' to the Constitutional referendum. Both events, Baudrillard suggests, are indicative of a widespread cultural malaise and disaffection with a globalized Europe. Is Baudrillard's diagnosis accurate, and if so does it apply to all of Europe or France only?

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