Did the SNCF expect such an outcry when it launched its new “Optimum” class on January 8? Intended for professional travelers, this offer promises a “quiet” space in the TGV, accessible “from 12 years old”. Faced with the outcry, the railway company tried to reassure: the little ones are “welcome on the rest of the … Read more
Twice a month, in her column for L’Express, the philosopher and writer Julia de Funès analyzes the absurdities and excesses of our time. Whether it concerns the business world or, more broadly, society, the author of The Dangerous Virtue (Éditions de l’Observatoire) questions practices and ways of thinking that have become so familiar and formatted … Read more
For generations, the American Dream has been built on the idea of meritocracy: the belief that hard work and talent, not birthright, determine success. We tell our kids that anyone can grow up to be president, or the next LeBron James, if they put in the effort. But is this ideal starting to crumble? Are … Read more
Are French Management Styles Holding Back Their Athletes? A Deep Dive When we look at international sports, especially in team settings, the question of leadership adn management always arises. Are certain national styles more effective than others? Recent analysis suggests that French managerial practices might be a handicap compared to those of Germany, Italy, or … Read more
Culture Wars: Are “Anti-Woke” Activists the New Game Changers? Table of Contents Culture Wars: Are “Anti-Woke” Activists the New Game Changers? The Playbook for Cultural Reversal The Alinsky Approach: A New Play for the Right? The Long Game: what’s Next? The New Playbook: How Conservative Activists Are Taking a Page from the Left’s Strategy Key … Read more
The CIA‘s Secret Playbook: How books Became Cold War MVPs Table of Contents The CIA’s Secret Playbook: How books Became Cold War MVPs Censorship on Censorship: The Soviet Playbook The Playmakers: From Paris Bookstores to john Paul II The CIA’s Cold War Playbook: How Books Became Weapons The Literary Line of Scrimmage Poland: Ground Zero … Read more
French Management Styles Clash with Swiss Workplace Culture: A Cautionary tale for American Executives? Table of Contents French Management Styles Clash with Swiss Workplace Culture: A Cautionary tale for American Executives? competence vs. Credentials: The American Parallel The “Clan” Mentality: Networking vs. Meritocracy Vertical vs. Participative: A Clash of Leadership Styles Qualities and Caveats: Interaction … Read more
Youth Violence Crisis: Knee-Jerk Reactions Won’t Solve the Root Problem Table of Contents Youth Violence Crisis: Knee-Jerk Reactions Won’t Solve the Root Problem Understanding Youth violence: A Crisis of Identity and Authority? A Perfect Storm of Contributing Factors The Weight of the World: Pessimism and the Future The Identity Crisis: Adolescence Redefined Addressing the Root … Read more
In a democratic society governed by law, justice is supposed to rest on two pillars: equal treatment and proportionality of sanctions. However, a strange imbalance is gradually installed in our country. On the one hand, ordinary citizens are heavily sanctioned for minor faults: an error in a Cerfa form, a poorly affixed parking ticket, a … Read more
Trump’s Trade War: Is China About to Score the Ultimate Victory? Table of Contents Trump’s Trade War: Is China About to Score the Ultimate Victory? Trump’s tariff U-Turn: A Sign of Weakness? China’s Strategy: playing the Long Game The Stakes for American Consumers Can Trump Salvage the Situation? The Counterargument: Is China Bluffing? The Final … Read more