Maurice Taylor Against Goodyear: International Provocations and France’s Overbearing National Pride

It is not the first time that the CEO of the U.S. tire giant Titan has had berating insults thrown at him following a provocative letter written by him regarding Goodyear’s “so-called workers.” This latest example illustrates France’s unfortunate anarchic ways.

Showered by an unparalleled assault of snapshots, Maurice Taylor, CEO of Titan, announced amid much controversy that he would not take over the Goodyear factory in Amiens, France. Even if his refusal was delivered in a undiplomatic manner, is it right to trigger a fury of excessively chauvinistic protests against him, as if the “cost killer,” as he is known to the French, was threatening the French Republic with another Brunswick Manifesto? Isn’t this going a bit too far? Many people thought that they would boost their reputations by throwing ample insults at Taylor, but this is not the case. What were they hoping for exactly? Titan’s chief executive manager, surprisingly receptive to the French media, has been treating himself to an inexpensive press campaign that he never dreamed would happen.

For Maurice Taylor is not a newcomer surprised by the ways of the French, far from it. A member of the Republican Party, “Grizz,” short for “Grizzly,” in reference to his ruthless ways, stood as a Republican candidate during the 1996 presidential election — which Bill Clinton won. Even in the U.S. he is considered a sort of caricature of the Republican Party, accustomed to making biting comments against trade unions, the federal state, the Democratic Party, Barack Obama … All the more reason not to give Taylor a helping hand; he has always gone after what he wants himself.

This debacle illustrates France’s unfortunate anarchic ways. A few months ago it was Lakshmi Mittal that was the object of France’s rebukes. After Mittal it was Carlos Ghosn’s turn. Ghosn, who epitomizes globalization, was accused of having abandoned Renault in favor of Nissan. Who will be the next CEO that will have to endure French political leaders that refuse to admit the consequences of the insufficient competitiveness of France’s industries? What will this chauvinism, combined with France’s social problems, bring as a solution to France’s economic challenges? Patriotic mumblings never saved jobs.

The slightest sign of France’s weakening economy amplifies its endless downward spiral; the loss of France’s AAA [rating] given by Standard & Poor’s or David Cameron’s suggestion that wealthy French tax exiles would be welcome in the U.K. — a message that is also promulgated by London’s mayor, the insolent Boris Johnson. France’s revolutionary ways are apparently very popular outside of France as many people support France’s revolts — this really is not good news at all — as is shown by incessant accusations on the part of the very liberal weekly British news publication The Economist, whose success is on the rise according to French decision-makers. In the long run, France runs the risk of seeing her industries being overtaken by inconspicuous but economically influential foreign markets, in reaction to the iron fists that conflict with market laws. This is without taking into account scorn-filled criticisms uttered through clenched teeth in Germany, which fears France’s weakening economy more than any other country. France’s mistake is not assessing the extent to which its actions have sparked worry among its principal partners, at a time when national pride is growing worldwide.

Above all, turning France against the rest of the world, even if only to openly proclaim it, would lead to two fundamental contradictions completely harmful to France’s economic recovery. On the one hand, this downturn is precisely the danger that François Hollande intends to avoid at all costs: By striving to bring the budgetary deficit down to three percent of the gross domestic product, Hollande hopes to reassure the markets as well as its European neighbors. On the other hand, the main responsibility of French diplomats throughout the world nowadays is improving the economy: Since his appointment Laurent Fabius has focused his attention on the expansion of France’s export capacity and the reinforcement of its appeal. The minister has even appointed a Franco-American relations specialist, Justin Vaisse, at the head of the French research-based advisory institution, the Center of Analysis and Forecasting at the Quai d’Orsay. In other words, the protests against borderless capitalists amount to scaring off foreign investors and ruining all these efforts.