I am french, but I have been living abroad for almost 20 years, so my perspective is somewhat peculiar .
What strikes me is the complete inability of the french society to accept necessary reforms , to benchmark what other countries have done or are doing to adapt to a globalized economy , and to think that whatever social progress they have acquired along the years is there to stay advitam aeternam.
There is a necrosis at the top of the ladder, when almost all the top politicians and executives come from 2 or 3 grandes ecoles.
The civil service is loaded with privileges from another era and will not accept any reform , hence the endless strikes.
Just one example for those of you who do not know : french MP's are given a monthly expense allowance of over 6000 Euros, which they can spend how they want , without having to produce any receipt whatsoever to justify the expense. Nice perk right ?