French Public Opinion and the Marshall Plan: The Communists and Others

Abstract

This chapter deals with the state of French opinion—as measured by the only existing polling company at the time, the IFOP (Institut français d’opinion publique)—regarding the Marshall Plan, and, more broadly, international relations, images of the United States and the USSR, the dangers of “imperialisms” coming from the super-powers, and attachment to French independence. The data show an important discrepancy between the Communist supporters and all the other sectors of the electorate (socialist and gaullist included); the “Marshall Plan” French opinion reveals a “cold war” France, where those who believe in the starred banner (even when they have suspicions about the U.S. “imperialist” visions) strongly oppose those who believe in the red star (even when they have doubts that the USSR will help France’s recovery).