French style is synonymous with chic, the Burgundy vintages are better than ever, yet France today is quite unsure of its identity. At its best, the French way of life is deeply civilized, embracing beguiling patternsof thought, a penchant for the arts and philosophy and a gift for food and fashion. Certainly, France prides itself on capturing the cultural high ground, whether upholding intellectual standards or making a simple salad dressing. However, one of the world's most prosperous countries is currently undergoing something of an identity crisis and a mood introspection.

The tension between faddishness and familiarity is clear in the characteristic approach to cuisine: an admiration for exotic new gastrodomes is undercut by a desire for old regional comfort food.  Early 21st century France may be wallowing in nastalgia yet it can still produce some of the boldest examples of contemporary architecture in the world. This dichotomy runs deep in the national identity, typified by the French traits of intellectual rigour and romantic inconsistency. France's unexpected victory in the world cup in July 1998 seemed to lift the country out of its gloom and help propel the country towards economic prosperity.

  
As staunch Europeans, the French were among the architects of the Maastricht treaty, the blueprint for European integration. Yet, in a Mitterrand referendum, the French only narrowly voted to remain in the European Union. In the late 1990's, the relationship with Europe remained troubled as the country truggled to control the bloated public sector and adapt to monetary union, after the introduction of the Euro in 1999.

 On the wider stage, the French have a love-hate relationship with the United States and Canada, having owned much of the former and populated much of the latter.

  
 

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