Prancūzijos užsienio politika Tuniso, Libijos ir Egipto atžvilgiu Arabų pavasario metu ; French foreign policy towards Tunisia, Libya and Egypt during the Arab spring
With the beginning of the Arab Spring new opportunities for research on democratization emerged. One of the elements that could be examined is the external factors of democratization. The aspect of external factors is analyzed in the article with the focus on the French policy towards Tunisia, Libya and Egypt because these countries experienced the biggest changes in comparison with other countries of the Arab Spring. The article analyzes the rhetoric and actions of France aimed at Tunisia, Libya and Egypt during the Arab Spring. In the article it is argued that French policy towards the analysed states is a combination of pragmatism and idealism. This coexistence leads to emergence of double standards in foreign policy with short-term interests taking priority, but the long-term aspirations are not denied, especially what concerns rhetoric of France. The article argues that synthesis of the classical realism, the neo-liberalism and democratic peace theories can provide explanation for double standards and inconsistency in the French foreign policy towards Tunisia, Libya and Egypt during the Arab Spring. The article ends with evaluation of successes and failures of the French foreign policy towards Tunisia, Libya and Egypt in context of the Arab Spring.