The author's biography
Patrice-Ariel Français - or more simply Ariel Français - was born in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, on 22 December 1945. Son of a diplomat, he lived in different parts of the world (Germany, Brazil, Spain and Kenya), before returning to France at 15 years old, in order to complete his high school curriculum and study at the university.
He first completed high school at the Lycée Condorcet (Paris) and then studied in two university level institutions: the Faculté de Droit et de Sciences Economiques of Paris and the Institut d’ Etudes politiques (IEP) of Paris (“Sciences Po”). After having specialized in political sciences, public administration and international law, he graduated from the IEP and further obtained the title of Doctor (Phd) in Law, which is the highest title delivered in this field by French universities.
During his military service, in 1970, he served in the public information service of the Ministry of Defense (SIRPA), where he contributed to the elaboration of the Ministry’s public information statements on defense programming and nuclear deterrence (he was meanwhile promoted to the rank of sergeant).
Shortly after, Ariel Français worked a few months as a trainee in one of the largest French national banks (the Société Générale) and was thereafter appointed, by the end of 1971, as Chargé de mission (Planning officer) at the Commissariat Général du Plan, the French planning authority attached to the Prime Minister. He served five years at the Commissariat Général du Plan, contributing to the follow up of the VIth and to the preparation of the VIIth economic and social development plans. He was in charge of the social and territorial dimensions of industrial development and also responsible for the sector of the traditional industries. During that period he assumed also the functions of Lecturer on development planning at the Institut international d’administration publique (IIAP) and other institutions (i.e. ENA of Rabat, Marrocos)
During all the above period, and in the wake of May 68, Ariel Français actively participated - as a citizen - in the political life of his country, joining the Socialist party and assuming different responsibilities at local and national levels. He was appointed, in particular, Secretary of the party’s Commission on national defense.
By the end of 1976, Ariel Français decided to work on world development issues, starting with an international assignment with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In that capacity he was appointed as Technical Advisor with the Commissao Nacional de Politica Urbana (CNPU), the Brazilian authority in charge of nation wide urban planning, and simultaneously as consultant with the Superintendencia para o Desenvolvimento do Nordeste (SUDENE), the Brazilian development agency in charge of the North East region of Brazil. During that period he contributed to the formulation of a strategy for industrial decentralization while advising the SUDENE on industrial development policies.
In 1979, Ariel Français returned to France, with the aim of moving to an international career. He worked a year as Visiting fellow with the Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales (CEPII), a research center linked to the Commissariat Général du Plan specialized in long term economic prospective studies. He conducted there a research on new industrialized countries, concentrating on the Brazilian model, while applying for different positions in international organizations.
In 1980, Ariel Français joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), serving thereafter the United Nations during 25 years. His career with UNDP started with four successive assignments in Africa. He served as Assistant Resident Representative (Programme) in Mozambique (1980-1984), Deputy Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau (1984-1985) and Senegal (1985-1989) and UNDP Resident Representative / UN Resident Coordinator in Gabon (1989-1991). During all these years he assisted the countries where he was assigned to develop national capacities and build new institutions, while facing political troubles, civil wars and natural disasters.
In 1991, Ariel Français was reassigned to Geneva as Deputy Director of the UNDP European Office. In that capacity he contributed to the implementation of UNDP’s communication strategy in Europe, liaised with UN specialized organizations and UN based bodies in Europe and got involved in the implementation of major international initiatives (in fields such as HIV-AIDS, environment, humanitarian crises, etc.). He also represented UNDP in various international conferences (as acting Head of the UNDP delegation, in particular, at the World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna, 1993) and acted as Director a.i. of the European Office.
In 1994 he was reassigned to Cuba as UNDP Resident Representative / UN Resident Coordinator. During the five years he served in Cuba (1994-1999), he helped the country to face the critical socio-economic situation generated by the collapse of its special relationship with the former USSR, while opening new windows of cooperation in fields related to economic recovery and to the promotion of local initiatives. He was thereafter reassigned to Tunisia, in the same capacity, where he served another five years (1999-2004). He launched there new initiatives such as the implementation of a long term prospective exercise (“Tunisia 2030”) and of local development initiatives, while witnessing personally the rise of radical Islam in the Arab world.
Since he retired from the UN, in 2005, Ariel Français dedicated most of his time to reflections on major socio-economic and geopolitical issues, building on his analytical skills, his professional experience and his wide international exposure. He is in particular the author of four essays on sensitive political issues: “Islam radical et nouvel ordre impérial” (1997, L’Harmattan), “Memorias de Cuba” (CreateSpace, 2012). “Let’s Get Rid of Growth!” (2016, Our Future World) and "Mon regard sur le monde" (2021, Our Future World).
Ariel Francais is married and the father of three children.