Search results

AUTHOR IDENTIFIES AND DISCUSSES THE FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FRENCH FOREIGN POLICY: HOSTILITY TO AN 'ANGLO-SAXON' PRESENCE ON THE CONTINENT; FEAR OF GERMANY; AND A COMPULSION TO MAINTAIN THE ABILITY TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY. CONFLICTS AMONG THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE NOTED, FRANCE'S INTEREST IN MAINTAINING DETENTE IS EXPLORED; AND FRENCH NUCLEAR DOCTRINE IS REVIEWED.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, THE GROUND PLAN OF EUROPEAN SECURITY MUST BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED. THE GENERALLY RIGID STATUS QUO, WHICH HAD ITS ORIGINS IN THE COLD WAR, HAS GIVEN WAY TO A DISTURBINGLY VOLATILE CONDITION OF UNCERTAINTY. FOR DECADES, NATO AND THE WARSAW TREATY ORGANIZATION SYMBOLIZED THE PERMANENCE OF THE ADVERSARY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EAST AND WEST EUROPE. NOW THAT THE STATUS QUO ANTE-1989 IS GONE, THESE BASICALLY MILITARY STRUCTURES MUST ADAPT TO THE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES OR DISAPPEAR.