Foreign policy

Introduction

From the 1950s, France has followed a remarkable stable foreign policy with fundamental elements of Gaullist approach.  De Gaulle developed a set of norms that have shaped France’s policies up to the present day both among its policymakers and public’s perception of the country’s role in the world. These have influenced security and foreign affairs policies. De Gaulle policies were retained after his presidency and adopted by his successors in spite of their political shade. This paper discusses aspects of Charles de Gaulle's foreign policy in relation to its place in the politics of the nations.

Relations with the United States

Monetary crisis

A Conference held in July 1944 at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire saw the creation of a new international monetary system regarded as Bretton Woods system. Nations in participation saw the opportunity for a new international system following World War II that would provide for postwar reconstruction. Countries sought to create a system that would address the lack of cooperation among the nations on those systems and steer clear of the rigidity of earlier international monetary systems.

Two new institutions were established: The International Monetary Fund and The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. with IMF’s  formal existence in December 1945, member countries entered into an agreement to keep their currencies fixed nevertheless adjustable to the dollar.  On the other hand, the dollar was fixed to gold. An agreement reached in the world monetary forum widened the gap between France and United States as France became the only country to oppose a plan to create a new reserve asset known as paper gold. 

A number of economists noted the inequality of the system. General de Gaulle expressed criticism of the system that saw the issue take a far more directly political dimension. De Gaulle adopted a harder position in order to maintain pressure on the Unite States, and proposed a return to the principles of the gold standard. After it proved impossible to reach an agreement, de Gaulle sent the French navy to repatriate the country’s gold reserves from Federal Reserve Bank in New York in efforts to ensure that  France exercised total control over its own reserves (Claeys, 2004).

Opposition to Vietnam War

De Gaulle believed that Viet Nam conflict was unwinnable in a strictly military sense. According to him, the best approach would be through a negotiated settlement that would require the United States to change three of its principles. First, the United States would bring back its forces from Viet Nam. Secondly, United States would have controlled neutrality of Southeast Asia and assist in rebuilding it.  Thirdly, the United States would have to acknowledge the significant role of China in treaties and agreement for relations to be established (Costigliola, 1992).

Withdrawal from participation in NATO

The United States encouraged the economic, political and military integration of Western Europe Since World War II.  However, De Gaulle was highly suspicious of an international organization which posed as a threat to French sovereignty. Therefore, De Gaulle supported alliances with foreign nations, but he opposed organizational trappings that often accompanied them. On the other hand,  The United States was unwilling to take seriously the perceived role of France is entitled to in world affairs. France’s humiliating defeat of 1940, the long-lasting instability of its governments after 1944, and the later loss of its empire convinced the United States that France had dropped permanently from the ranks of first-class powers (Menon, 2000).

 De Gaulle believed that the power possessed by the United States was too great.  France's refusal to cooperate in world monetary reforms and withdrawal from  NATO’s command were motivated in large part by a desire to contain that power. The event affected the two countries relations with nations calling for a weighted “market basket” of the dollar to replace the US dollar. Since then, France and the United States have differed in both monetary policy and foreign policy.

Relations with German

Today, France and Germany enjoy good relations particularly in the context of European Union. The countries have immense collaboration and coordination in furthering the ideals of European Integration. They are often described as core countries that actively push for further integration of the European Union.  The France-German relation has numerous layers. It emerged from historic turbulences including the first and second World Wars (Wong, 2005).  During this period, there were deep mistrust and considerable resentment that persisted on both sides. But after the Second World War Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer helped lay the foundation for the prevailing relations between the two countries.  De Gaulle’s presidential style of government has been continued until today by his successors. Internationally, the importance of French independence characterized de Gaulle’s policy is a keynote of foreign policy as well as his alignment with the former rival Germany. Today, the relations between the two countries is viewed as the foundation for European integration.

Relations with China

France enjoys a strategic relationship with China. China is no long a developing nation and its foreign policy interests have far stretched to faraway places in Latin America and Africa. The two countries are partners in foreign policy. The bilateral relationship has grown and is characterized by strategic partnerships in recent years.  The relations date back to various historical events. Charles de Gaulle publicly shared his fascination towards China by recognizing China as fundamentally a very deep and unique civilization. Gaulle sought to build good relations with Chin. He viewed China as a nation with great potential, with the capacity to be a global player  with transformative power to shape the future, due to its size, population, and civilization. De Gaulle’s had a visionary prediction on China’s future renaissance.

Beginning 1964, France became the first nation to start undertaking strategic partnership and dialogue, establish cooperation in the area of nuclear energy and initiate military exchanges.  Bilateral trade between the two countries was approximately $100 million in 1964 . Currently, it has tremendously increased by more than 500 times (Byrne et al., 2010). There are numerous French firms operating in China. Investment by the two countries has been characterized by large bilateral contracts, particularly in nuclear and aviation fields.  In Europe, France is the number one tourist destination for Chinese citizens.

Conclusion

Charles de Gaulle was certainly an extraordinary figure with an overarching and ambitious vision to reshape international affairs.  De Gaulle values and of norms were retained after his presidency and adopted by his successors in spite of their political shade. De Gaulle developed policies that have shaped France’s policies up to the present day. France largely agrees or differs in policy with different nations based on past experiences during De Gaulle era.

References

Wong, R. (2005). The Europeanization of French foreign policy: France and the EU in East Asia. Springer.

Claeys, A. S. (2004). ” Sense and sensibility”: the role of France and French interests in European development policy since 1957. EU development cooperation: from model to symbol, 113-132.

Byrne, J. J., Davidson, C., Ellison, J., Fermandois, J., Germond, C., Heimann, G., ... & Torikata, Y. (2010). Globalizing de Gaulle: International Perspectives on French Foreign Policies, 1958–1969. Lexington Books.

Costigliola, F. (1992). France and the United States: the cold alliance since World War II (Vol. 9). Twayne Pub.

Menon, A. (2000). France, NATO and the Limits of Independence 1981-97: The Politics of Ambivalence. Springer.

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