Bringing up the baby

Are French mothers the new Tiger moms? Are they stricter than the British equivalents? And if so, is it working? Are French kids better behaved and educated? Are they happier??

This article from the Guardian raises some interesting observations regarding child raising, but I can't help but feeling that the core of the issue has nothing to do with nationality, but simply in differences in attitude amongst conflicting groups of parenting styles.

If children are being let to run free to discover the world and make their own choices, are they harmonious or disruptive?
If they are reared in a more strictly confined space, where some one is scheduling every step they are allowed to take, will this benefit them in their adult lives?

We can argue for the sake of arguing for as long as we like, but the bottom line is, parents will not always agree on the art of bringing up the baby. There is no point in dressing it up as a matter of nationality - we all come form different schools of life.