A family picnic in the meadows, children frolicking in a river, church bells ringing out at noon to mark an eight-course Sunday lunch: welcome to la Douce France — “Sweet France” — a concept and a song that kept French patriotism burning bright during the darkest days of German occupation.

The song, written by Charles Trenet in 1943, was unashamedly nostalgic — and somewhat out of touch even then — yet President Sarkozy’s Government has seized on it now in a fresh bout of nation-building.

Mr Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, believes that the French are not patriotic enough. His Government has launched a campaign to re-instil the values of la Douce France in French souls, to protect the country from encroaching alien influences, such as English words and Muslim garments.

Frédéric Lefebvre, spokesman for the ruling Union for a Popular Movement, called on his countrymen to defend “our cultural model and la Douce France . . . at a time when globalisation, which erases each day a little more of the characteristics of each nation, is so harsh”.

There is clearly no room in the new national image for blazing high-rise suburbs, racially charged urban strife and violent pickets in front of rusting factories. La Douce France, which became an anthem for the French Resistance, is a misty-eyed tribute to France’s rural roots. Critics say that the song is irrelevant to modern France, where three times as many people live in towns and cities as in the EU-subsidised countryside, and where five million people are of Muslim background. The Government says that it will consult French people of every class and colour in its search for those elusive core values. Eric Besson, the Minister for Immigration and the National Identity, will conduct a two-month national debate on what it means to be French in the 21st century. Mr Besson plans to talk to political parties, unions, business leaders and associations before holding a symposium in January that will determine the league table of core values.

Saying that he wanted to reaffirm “pride in being French”, Mr Besson has told the nation’s children that they should sing La Marseillaise at least once a year and encouraged adults to participate in civic instruction courses.

Not every French citizen is enthused. Detractors say that the Government appears more intent on harking back to the first half of the 20th century than defining the France of the future. Vincent Peillon, a leading member of the opposition Socialist Party, accused ministers of playing with fire as they sought to pick up votes from the National Front.

“France has never spoken about national identity. It’s dangerous to open a debate like that,” he said.

Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, also a Socialist MP, noted that Mr Sarkozy had reopened a debate about immigration and the national identity before every election since 2001. With regional elections due next spring, “the trick is wearing thin”, Mr Cambadélis said.

The Government was also attacked for reigniting controversy over the Muslim veil. Mr Besson said that the burka “runs counter to national values” and should not be worn in public. “For me, no burkas in the street,” he said. There were certainly not many of them around in 1943.

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