Irkhin Yu.V. Review of the Article by Rodionova M. E. "Features of the Presidential Campaign in France: Results And Prospects"
Review of the article by RODIONOVA M.E. "FEATURES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE: RESULTS AND PROSPECTS»
Reviewer:
Y.V. Irkhin Doctor of Sciences (philosophy), Professor, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Professor, Russian State Humanitarian University Moscow, Russia
The article by Rodionova M. E. presented for review examines at a good theoretical and methodological level the current problems of analysis of the recent presidential elections in France. The volume of the article is 9 pages, font 14. The article is presented in the correct format in accordance with the recommendations of the HAC and the requirements of the journal Issues of politology. The article has a clear logical structure: actuality, substantiation of the problem, research tasks, conclusions, bibliography (the article has a table on the positions of the parties in the elections, the number of voters, etc.).
Actuality. The article is devoted to the character, course (process) and results of the elections of the President of France, one of the leading countries of the European Union and the world. The article is relevant both from the point of view of the analysis of innovations in the presidential election campaign in France, and from the point of view of its consideration of not only short-term, but also long-term results that are supposed to have an impact on the coming years. Especially important are the consequences of the elections for the subsequent improvement of relations between France and Russia, the establishment of good, including personal relations between E. Macron and V.V. Putin, who has also been recently elected President.
Novelty. This is one of the first articles that provides a comprehensive analysis of the new phenomena that have emerged in recent years in the EU and France, and have had a significant impact on the results and features of the presidential elections in France. In addition, the article describes in detail some of E. Macron’s methods and novelties that can be used in the Russian context.
Approaches, methods and style. It should be noted that the article is not only scientifical and innovative, but simply interesting, which is important for the expansion of the audience of the Journal.
So, after setting the tasks, etc., the main text of the article begins with an interesting brief historical and analytical excursion into the relations between Russia and France, as well as the analysis of the official visit of the Russian President to France, after the election of President E. Macron, timed to the 300th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and France and the visit of Peter I to Paris and Versailles (Macron and Putin also met in Paris and Versailles) in May 2017, as well as the results of the official visit of French President E. Macron to Russia and his work at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
In her analysis, the author correctly assumes that the political picture of the world has changed in recent years ("new political and economic reality"): the world has become multipolar, the consequences of the global crisis of 2008/2009 are not overcome, the role of Russia has increased, obvious crisis phenomena in the development of the European Union (migration, low rates of economic development, large external debts, falling incomes, the contradictions between the policies of Brussels and national States, the increasing role of neotraditionalism, neoconservatism, neo-modernist values, national movements, etc.).
All of the above, reflected and expressed in the genesis of French politics, is duly reflected in the article.
The article comprehensively examines the positions of all political forces in France before and during the elections, analyzes the programs of candidates, shows the dynamics of the changing balance of forces between them, their ratings, and considers all the main reasons that led to the results of the elections, so important for France and Europeand for the subsequent changes in the French politics.
The article is written by a sociologist, so it pays fairly much attention to the analysis of public opinion trends and ratings of the candidates.
The article thoroughly consideres achievements and mistakes of Marie Le Pen, who led the National Front and took second place in the first and second rounds of voting in the presidential campaign.
Much attention is paid to the consideration of new political technologies (including the use of holograms) and features of political leadership of E. Macron, who played a crucial role in achieving the goals.
We agree with the author's conclusion that in general the electoral campaign in France reflected a similar socio-political and ideological division that manifested itself in the UK Brexit referendum and in the US elections of President Donald Trump. The results of the elections in France also led to a certain change or transformation of some foreign policy discourses.
So: the author managed to correctly put and innovatively consider important problems of the French and European policy in a considerably small article. The article will certainly be useful and interesting for the readers of the Journal. Given that Rodionova is leading a large-scale EU project on the new electoral practices in Europe and Russia, it may be useful to think about attracting well-known project participants, including foreign authors for cooperation in the Journal. (See: Electoral processes in Russia and Europe: new practices, institutions and technologies; under the General editorship of M.E. Rodionova, S.Y. Belokonev, P.S. Seleznev, D.A. Yezhov. – Moscow: KnoRus, 2018. – 344 с.).