ABSTRACT
The history of the relations between France and Central and Eastern Europe is a long one, but the legacy of the past—although sometimes an asset—can also be a burden because it is largely dominated by memories of constant disappointment on the part of its East European partners. Central and Eastern Europe have always been important in French diplomacy, for geographic and historical reasons. In the nineteenth century, France's policy toward Eastern Europe seemed caught between realpolitik and emotions. The support given by French diplomacy to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe process led France to encourage an independent role for the East European states, in accord with the French traditional opposition to bloc-to-bloc discussion. A policy of firmness toward the Soviet Union could have included a true concern for Eastern Europe, Unfortunately, as was demonstrated early in the December 1981 Polish crisis, what emerged was a discrepancy between France's harsh words and its conciliatory deeds.
