French Foreign Policy in the Age of Polycrisis
Under the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, France has set itself the goal of strengthening its international presence, being more proactive and defining the European reform agenda. However, the French room for manoeuver is limited.
The increasingly confrontational nature of the clashes between the United States, China and Russia as well as the US's challenge to the rules of multilateralism reduce the influence of a regional power such as France. Furthermore, French domestic issues - for example high unemployment and the lack of competiteveness as well as social tensions - contradict its claim to equality on the international stage. Last but not least, France's capacity to respond to global challenges such as climate change or domographic change in Africa is very limited.
This article appeared in the magazine published regularly by Nomos editions under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ursula Schröder "S+F Sicherheit und Frieden. Security and Peace, 37. Jg. 3/2019", pages 118 to 123.
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Hans STARK
Conseiller pour les relations franco-allemandes à l'Ifri
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The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.
Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
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