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National Security Strategy of Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle was driven by his vision of a return to French "global preeminence combined with a revitalization of French society"--A resumption of French traditional world status. The destruction wrought on France in two world wars when England and America assisted too little or too late left de Gaulle with a deep distrust of reliance on others in matters of vital national security. The bitter experience of France's second-class status among the World War II Allies left de Gaulle with a lasting distaste for dealing in international affairs from a position of weakness. De Gaulle could not accept a diminished status for France in world affairs after World War II. Pragmatism and idealism combined to impel him to seek to carve for France a greater role. Restoration of her status as a global power combined with a revitalization of French society militarily, politically, and economically were the cornerstones of de Gaulle's perception of French national interest. De Gaulle's "Grand Design" for foreign policy included the following: (1) development of a nuclear capability (an autonomous nuclear strike force and independent deterrent) to achieve the status of inclusion in the ranks of "nuclear powers"; (2) French withdrawal from NATO's unified military command structure, but with continued reliance on U.S. security guarantees and continued participation in NATO's political arrangements; (3) French leadership of a European political, military, and economic continental system; (4) exclusion of Great Britain from a continental system as long as she maintained her "special relationship" with the United States; and (5) the creation of Europe as a third world power.

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  • "Charles de Gaulle was driven by his vision of a return to French "global preeminence combined with a revitalization of French society"--A resumption of French traditional world status. The destruction wrought on France in two world wars when England and America assisted too little or too late left de Gaulle with a deep distrust of reliance on others in matters of vital national security. The bitter experience of France's second-class status among the World War II Allies left de Gaulle with a lasting distaste for dealing in international affairs from a position of weakness. De Gaulle could not accept a diminished status for France in world affairs after World War II. Pragmatism and idealism combined to impel him to seek to carve for France a greater role. Restoration of her status as a global power combined with a revitalization of French society militarily, politically, and economically were the cornerstones of de Gaulle's perception of French national interest. De Gaulle's "Grand Design" for foreign policy included the following: (1) development of a nuclear capability (an autonomous nuclear strike force and independent deterrent) to achieve the status of inclusion in the ranks of "nuclear powers"; (2) French withdrawal from NATO's unified military command structure, but with continued reliance on U.S. security guarantees and continued participation in NATO's political arrangements; (3) French leadership of a European political, military, and economic continental system; (4) exclusion of Great Britain from a continental system as long as she maintained her "special relationship" with the United States; and (5) the creation of Europe as a third world power."@en
  • "Charles de Gaulle was recalled to leadership during a series of political crises in France in 1958. There had been 24 governments in the 12 years since he had resigned as President in 1946. The costly war in Indochina and now the rebellion in Algeria were disintegrating the French Empire abroad and riots threatened civil war at home. Out of the morass of competing political factions, only two had any cohesion: the communists and the Army. It was the French Army that summoned de Gaulle from retirement. De Gaulle's terms for accepting the burden of leadership were nonnegotiable: he was granted constitutional authority for a powerful executive branch that stood above any legislative authority. Having at last been imbued with the power he believed necessary to govern France, he set about an ambitious agenda to restore France to "greatness." His visions of France as an equal partner in a triumvirate with Great Britain and the United States and as the uncontested leader of a unified European Community were never realized. He did succeed, however, in restoring France's self-confidence and dignity, both as a people and a nation, and in placing her on more equal terms in the competitive international system."@en

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  • "National Security Strategy of Charles de Gaulle"@en
  • "National Security Strategy of Charles De Gaulle"@en

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