The French Communist Party, Nuclear Weapons, and National Defense: Issues on the 1978 Election Campaign,
Abstract
With the possibility that Communist or Communist-dominated coalition governments could be elected in certain countries of Western Europe, it is important to consider the implications for the Atlantic Alliance and the defense of Western Europe. France is alone among the NATO Allies in possessing both an independent nuclear strike force (FNS) and a Communist party with the prospect of playing a key role in a coalition government Historically, the parties of the French Left have been opposed to the FNS and the Atlantic Alliance. Therefore, it was an intriguing volte-face when the Parti Communiste Francais (PCF) announced, prior to the 1978 French General Assembly elections, that it no longer opposed the FNS. The author probes beneath the rhetoric to reveal inconsistencies and contradictions inherent in the PCF positions on the FNS and the co-related issues of force structure, deterrence strategy, and the French role in the Atlantic Alliance. Despite PCF claims of acting in the French tradition of independence, he argues that PCF positions on the various issues serve the interests of the USSR to such an extent that implementation of PCF policies would neutralize the French nuclear force and seriously impair the stabilizing effect of NATO.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA064873
Entities
People
- Raymond E. Burrell
Organizations
- National Defense University