Thierry de Montbrial, CEO, French Institute of International Relations, discusses France’s role in the modern world order, re-industrialisation of the country, and the rich-poor divide.
January 13, 2014 | EditorialEmmanuel Daniel (ED): Thierry de Montbrial, president of the French Institute of International Relations. You actually founded this institute, didn’t you?
Thierry de Montbrial (TdM): Yes. Actually, I have founded three institutions in my life. The first one was the Policy Planning Staff in the French Foreign Ministry, which I founded exactly 40 years ago, in 1973. The second one is IFRI, the French Institute of International Relations in 1979. The third one is a major international conference club called the World Policy Conference, which I founded in 2008.
ED: How was the institution funded?
TdM: IFRI is privately funded, which is totally unique in France. For instance, the building we have, was funded 100% by private donations. In terms of yearly funding, it is more than 70% private. We have a subsidy which is slightly less than 30%, but it’s important to remind people that in France, the foundation system doesn’t work. So that money is government. In fact, it’s more or less the equivalent of what foundation money could be in other countries.
1. France’s role in the modern world order
ED: One of the things I wanted to explore with you is the mechanics of your own organisation, and how that reflects on the way France projects itself. It’s very difficult today to get a sense of what the French foreign projection is. In terms of its relevance to the developing world, and on some of the key global themes, how would you describe France’s orientation today and its own role in the global order today?
TdM: Well, there are various ways to answer such a question. But as you know, one of the things which are being discussed – actually I’m talking tomorrow in a panel where the word start-up nation is used.
Being a nation is a long-term c...
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Capital & Strategic Issues, Risk and RegulationKeywords:Thierry De Montbrial, IFRI, Peterson Institute For International Economics, Fred Bergsten, OECD, TTIP