The Mitterrand Legacy and the Future of French Security Policy
Abstract
President Francois Mitterrand was the living link between France's Cold War and post-Cold War security policy. Generally speaking, Mitterrand's leadership in foreign and security policy was impressive. His masterful security policy performance during his first term (1981-1988) gave way to much criticized hesitations and uncertainties during the transition from Cold War to post-Cold War problems. Yet, overall, Mitterrand's legacies in foreign and security policy are a source of some confidence to President Chirac. There are two parts to the issue of evaluating Francois Mitterrand's legacy in French security policy. One is the heritage of 14 years of French policy. Not everything was Mitterrand's responsibility, and, given France's interests, much of what he did would have been done, better or worse, by any French president. The other is, what aspects of the legacy are particularly Mitterrand's work? Did Mitterrand's own views, for example, prolong certain policies that otherwise would likely have been changed? Will certain of his policies, controversial or inadequate, be rapidly changed after his departure from office? Are there notable Mitterrand policies likely to characterize French security policy for a long time? Chapter 1 provides background information on France and Post-Cold War European Security and Mitterrand's Legacy. Chapter 2, Concepts and Doctrine, addresses The New Nexus of Security and Integration; The Security Concern of Muslim Fundamentalism; The Crise des Fondements: Gaullism, National Interest, and European Security; and Bosnia, France, and European Security. Chapter 3, Some French Military Trends, looks at Force Development: The 1995-2000 Military Plan, Mitterrand's Nuclear Legacy, and The Nuclear Test Moratorium. Chapter 4, Institutional Developments, focuses on The Balladur Cohabitation Government, A French-British Defense Axis?, Developing the OSCE, and An Inter-African Peacekeeping Force? Chapter 5 discusses After Mitterrand. (42 refs.) 7
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA421940
Entities
People
- Ronald Tiersky
Organizations
- National Defense University