“Grande Politique”: The foreign policy of Théophile Delcassé and the construction of a French alliance network

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

6 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/17/2009

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

International relations

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Summary :

Introduction
The Franco Russian alliance reinforcement
1. The events that led to the signature of the 1892 agreement
2. The meaning of the new alliance for France's diplomatic situation
3. A change of spirit for the alliance in 1899
The resolution of the colonial dispute with the British
1. The scramble of Africa between France and Britain
2. The Fashoda incident and its resolution
3. A link-up between France and Britain: the Entente Cordiale
The link-up with Italy
1. Factors complicating the possibility of a link-up
2. Realizing the necessity of retying good relations
3. The direct consequences of the link-up between France and Italy
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

In the beginning of the 20th century, France appeared to be a great and powerful nation in Europe. She had two main preoccupations concerning her foreign policy: on one hand France wanted to reinforce and expand her colonial Empire; on the other hand she had the will to maintain and strengthen security in Europe. That is how France created a new diplomatic "system" which tried to reach those two goals. théophile delcassé embodies this new french system.

théophile delcassé became foreign Minister at the age of 46 in June 1898 and he left this post in 1905. At the start delcassé was considered as a "pro colonial " and nationalist politician, he wanted - for example - France to conquer extra-European territories.

However, the rivalry between France and Great Britain on the colonial level and the fear of Germany did not allow delcassé to apply a strict expansionism policy. His foreign policy had to consist in building an alliance network in order to secure France. delcassé wanted to build a synthesis between an overseas expansionism and security for France in Europe: This foreign policy is called delcassé's "grande politique".