Traveling to Paris during the World Cup was a once in a lifetime experience. Not only did Paris offer culture and history, it also gave us, as tourists, an insight into their nationalistic values. When I told friends and family that I was studying abroad in Europe this summer, they immediately questioned if I was traveling to France, Spain, or Italy. I think it is safe to assume that the politics of travel can help explain why these particular countries often get so much attention. With Europe being the world’s most important tourism destination, it is no surprise that certain countries and cities within Europe are especially symbolic. The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, allows for free movement between certain countries of Europe. This treaty is responsible for tourists, to travel throughout many parts of Europe without necessarily showing our passport. (http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/free_movement_of_persons_asylum_immigration/l33020_en.htm) The application of the Shengen Agreement was noted in our hassle-free travels from Luxembourg to Paris. Tourists from all over the world can appreciate this subtle ease in which travel is made. However, travel arrangements to symbolic cities, such as Paris, are not so simple when the middle of summer approaches with swarming travelers itching to get a reservation for the TGV trains.
When examining statistics, France was the third most popular tourism destination in 2007. Furthermore, the Ile de France ranked number one of the top twenty EU tourist regions. France also came in third when comparing tourism spending in Europe. (epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu). Finally, the airports in France were one of the most popular ones throughout Europe. This can easily be correlated to the tourism that France is so accustomed to. The reasoning behind the popularity of Paris is hard to pinpoint. Whether it is the infamous Eiffel Tower, the prevalence of the city in modern-day films, or the connotation with romantics, Paris is surely an iconic destination. The politics of travel can be related to the politics of national identity, language, and culture associated with particular countries.
The French language can be related to their cultural as well as national identity. Before traveling to Paris, I naively could not shake the stereotype of the French and American tension towards each other, as portrayed in European Vacation. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089670/). Once we arrived, it was rather intimidating hearing everyone around us speak French and not understanding the slightest bit of it. This, however, further emphasized the politics involved with language. France greatly contrasted to a country such as Luxembourg, which numerous languages are prevalent. The French language is obviously a unifying aspect of their everyday lives. One night in particular, we spent a few hours at a bar filled with local French students. All of them spoke English and explained that they have been learning our language since they were young. While on the topic of language, they admitted that they often question why most Americans speak English. It seemed difficult to explain to them any reasoning, except that this is simply a part of our culture. The 27 countries in the EU do, however, speak a multitude of languages, which accounts for a necessity to communicate with each other. The ease at which Europeans can travel and encounter various languages also creates the need to overcome language barriers. (http://europa.eu/languages/en/home). Some argue, however, that French is the most important foreign language to master. This source describes the usefulness of language in various affairs, as well as its prominence throughout the world. (http://www.fll.vt.edu/French/whyfrench.html).
The aspect of language seemed to be only a subtle part of their nationalist culture. Even when watching France play in the World Cup, their loyalty to their country was obvious. Behind the Eiffel Tower was a big screen TV set up to watch the games (this location is clearly political in its own sense). What better place to display your devotion to your country than a few meters away from this iconic French architectural masterpiece? While the people of France seemed to be unified in their allegiance during the broadcasting of the game, tension was possibly be boiling underneath. According to a 2009 article, a portion of the French population claimed that they were unhappy because the team is “not all really French”. After debate arose, the President launched a debate on national identity so that the people of France can: reassess their ‘definition’ of French, why being French is an honor, and what the French have to be proud of. If this motion by the President doesn’t define nationalism at it’s finest, then I don’t know what does. President Sarkozy states, “By abandoning what we stand for, we have ended up not knowing who we are. By encouraging self-hatred, we have closed the doors to the future.” (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/frances-crisis-of-national-identity-1826942.html). So from the perspective of American tourists looking for an entertaining football game in Paris, it comes as quite the surprise that France had encountered such harsh scrutiny. On the other hand, the majority of the football aficionados in the streets of France proudly flaunted their culture and their team that represents so much more than a group of football players. They simply put any disputes behind them and lived in the moment of loyalty and admiration for their country in which they feel such a strong sense of nationalism towards.
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