What Is Anglo-Gaullism? Really?

Not what's the philosophy of it, but what is it, actually?

What it is (in my opinion, as ever) is the latest thing for intellectuals to talk about. It has a novelty, and it gives people an excuse to discuss history and all that other interesting stuff. Europe after World War II, the differences between the French and the English, and so on.

I watched a recent debate about it on UnHerd. Before it began the audience in the room were asked to raise their hand if they already considered themselves to be an Anglo-Gaullist. In spite of the novelty most did.

Why?

I would argue it's because it essentially just repackages their pre-existing beliefs into something more trendy and intelligent-sounding.

The basic core ideas are nationalism and a strong welfare state/state-directed economy - i.e. the general middle ground of what most British voters want at the moment. It's not really that novel at all.

However, with Anglo-Gaullism there's also a third element that the general public don't share. Anti-Americanism. Which is another indicator that this is an intellectual pursuit. As it's a thing common across the entire intellectual class of Britain. From Peter Hitchens on the right, to people like Aaron Bastani on the left.

I like all these people, and I consume the podcasts and debates as much as anyone else in the audience, but I just don't share that same disdain for America. In fact, the World Cup begins tomorrow and I have £20 on the USA to win it. A long shot admittedly (a work colleague told me I might as well have thrown £20 out of the window, lol), but I couldn't resist. I'll be supporting America anyway (along with England), so with Trump in the White House I'm hoping for a bit of magic.

The intellectual class still can't quite get over the crassness of Trump however. (And the unrefined power of America in general.) For all the groundswell of changing opinion on things like borders and immigration and DEI the more civilised folks remain unable to adopt the plain label nationalist. Even Faragist-Nationalism - a British, colourblind, equal-under-the-law nationalism - is too beyond the pale of respectability. So wrapping things up in a French, distinctly un-British, costume makes the label so much more wearable.

This isn't just nationalism, this is Marks & Spencer nationalism.

So it's an elite, exquisite opinion. And it'll remain elite, as normal people would never embrace a nationalism fixed upon a foreigner. (Though you could argue it's a very clever way of enticing other members of the intellectual class into adopting some of these ideas ..perhaps Peter Hitchens understands only too well that he needs to sell acting in the British interest to those that recoil at the sheer thought.)

There's also the question of who would be invested with this extra state power. Who would be the Anglo de Gualle? Farage has a French name, but that's clearly not enough. Kemi Badenoch certainly has the arrogance of a Frenchman, but she doesn't have the actual support of the nation. (I actually like Kemi Badenoch's arrogant manner. It's, dare I say it, quite attractive. I think a lot of the Tory men that circle her with praise - the ones that aren't homosexual - feel a similar pull. It's a trap I won't be falling into. I certainly won't be calling her "mummy" like they do, but I can appreciate the magnetism. Just as I can recognise the effect Burnham has on his dopey, female-heavy audience, though I won't be buying that ticket either.)

Back to the Anglo-Gaullism for the final word. A big part of the whole argument is that state reform is needed to strengthen the hand of the executive - whoever has it. There is a case for this. Post-1997 changes do need overturning. Still, it's a bit of an exercise in chitchat and ideas. During the COVID lockdowns we saw how powerful the state could be when it wanted to. We likewise saw how little things like human rights and legal challenges mattered. So it's a lot of intellectual deckchair rearranging in reality. Likewise, part of the reason why the debate about Anglo-Gaullism irked me a little was because I view it as a sign that the intellectual class of Britain are getting lost in abstractions again. During COVID those that were against the lockdowns had a very real and apparent threat to face down. Now that's rescinded there's a creep back towards luxury beliefs.

Perhaps I need to look in the mirror though. Here I am writing my own article about this when I could be out knocking on doors or doing something else more real-worldy.

[On a minor, but related topic, I noticed today that the Facebook page for the local Reform UK branch (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) has abandoned the party (or the party's abandoned it - I'm not sure who ejected who first). The person running the account advocated supporting Rupert Lowe instead. I don't really know what's going on, but given it's my local area perhaps I should.]