ABSTRACT
Indeed, the bipolarity of international relations in Europe during the Cold War provided an environment exploited by successive French leaders from Charles de Gaulle onwards to engineer a particularly ‘French’ course in external relations. The superpower standoff, backed by well-armed, opposing alliance blocs, and centred on a divided Germany, facilitated the French approach. Based on ideas of national rank, status and autonomy, characterised by the development of a national nuclear deterrent capability and withdrawal from NATO’s integrated military system, France pursued ostensibly independent external policies in the search for a ‘third force’ position in international affairs. It was semi-detached from the Atlantic Alliance, often critical in relations with the United States, more positive towards the USSR and a driving force for West European co-operation.
