France tried to stay independent after the war. Hence the refusal to join NATO, the powerful cultural industry of the 60s, the nuclear industry after the 70s oil crisis, the attempts at a third way with the now BRICS countries.
Since the 80s, it's over, France has been led financially by Germany, culturally by the USA, and its politicians are trained abroad or work abroad after having done their worst inside.
Nuclear power is really the best example, France was the world leader, then the Germans pushed it to abandon everything including its future Phoenix program. France sold everything to the USA, and now the USA is launching a nuclear program in Eastern Europe, and they call it Phoenix...