The Europeanization of French Foreign Policy: France and the EU in East Asia (French Politics, Society and Culture)

This study examines the record of French and EU interactions with China, Japan, and Vietnam in the areas of economic exchanges, political security relations, and human rights to establish if there has been a trend of converging "European" politics and collective European conceptions of interest and identity. It argues that the utility and impact of EU institutions on French foreign policy behavior is more significant than is commonly imagined or admitted, and that foreign policies of EU member states tend over the long term towards convergence. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Maps......Page 11 List of Tables......Page 12 List of Grid Tables......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 14 Preface......Page 16 1 Introduction......Page 18 National foreign policies vs European Foreign Policy (EFP)......Page 19 State-centric vs. European-idealist conceptions of EFP......Page 21 Foreign policy analysis and Europeanization theory......Page 23 Approaches to understanding French foreign policy......Page 27 Applying Europeanization theory to French foreign policy......Page 28 “Europeanization”: dependent or independent variable?......Page 33 Sources......Page 34 Plan of the book......Page 35 The argument......Page 36 2 French and EU Objectives in East Asia: Which Affects Which?......Page 39 Interests and objectives......Page 40 Comparing foreign policy objectives......Page 41 I French objectives in East Asia......Page 42 a) Economic objectives......Page 44 b) Political and security objectives......Page 47 c) Human rights......Page 52 II The European Union's objectives in East Asia......Page 55 “New Asia Strategy”......Page 57 a) Economic objectives......Page 59 b) Political and security objectives......Page 61 c) Human rights......Page 64 III Interplay between French and European foreign policies......Page 67 Conclusions......Page 73 3 China: A Gaullist Partner?......Page 76 From enlightenment fascination to contempt and anti-communism......Page 78 The Gaullist legacy in France-China relations......Page 80 I Trade and investment relations......Page 82 a) The French lag and caution in China......Page 83 b) Copying or Europeanizing the “German model”?......Page 86 c) Taiwan and competing industrial interests......Page 88 d) EU alternative to national efforts?......Page 89 II Political and strategic relations......Page 93 a) EC-China political dialogue, 1975–90......Page 94 b) Mitterrand’s early neglect then confrontation with China, 1989–92......Page 97 c) Europeanizing French cooperation with China, 1993–2002......Page 100 III Human rights......Page 105 a) French human rights policy and China......Page 106 b) The EU’s human rights policy in China......Page 107 c) The 1997 débâcle: French national interests vs. EU solidarity......Page 110 d) Compromise and EU coordination from 1998......Page 112 Conclusions......Page 116 4 Japan: Beyond Fascination and Suspicion......Page 120 French reservations about Japan's rise to power, 1895–1945......Page 123 Secondary relationship and suspicion, 1945–88......Page 125 I Economic and trade relations......Page 127 a) The commission: beyond a common “EC vs. Japan” commercial policy......Page 128 b) French economic policy: from conflict to cooperation......Page 133 c) Towards industrial collaboration and a French presence in Japan......Page 137 II Political-strategic relations......Page 140 a) Taking post-Cold War Japan seriously......Page 141 b) France-Japan security cooperation......Page 144 c) EC-Japan political cooperation and 1991 joint declaration......Page 147 d) Security dialogue and partnership between civilian powers?......Page 149 III Human rights......Page 152 a) East and West?......Page 153 b) Human rights and development: taking the cue from Japan......Page 154 c) “Constructive dialogue” à la japonaise?......Page 158 Conclusions......Page 160 5 Vietnam: Relations Privilégiées in Southeast Asia?......Page 164 A French empire in Asia, 1858–1954......Page 165 The decolonization struggle, 1940–54......Page 168 French exception vs. EU convergence in Vietnam......Page 170 I Trade and aid......Page 171 a) Economic ties: French investment in doi moi......Page 172 b) French aid to Vietnam......Page 177 c) EU trade and cooperation assistance to Vietnam......Page 179 II Political-security objectives......Page 183 1979–1989: A special relationship during Vietnam’s isolation?......Page 184 a) French post-colonial responsibility towards Vietnam......Page 185 b) Vietnam as entrée for a French security role in Southeast Asia?......Page 189 c) Leveraging on the EU......Page 192 a) French criticism of Vietnam's human rights......Page 195 b) Constructive engagement after 1994......Page 198 c) The EU and constructive dialogue......Page 200 Conclusions......Page 204 Asia in French foreign policy......Page 208 France's Asia policy – what kind of Europeanization?......Page 210 Trade......Page 212 Political relations......Page 213 Human rights......Page 215 Convergence vs. the logic of diversity......Page 216 Towards a more “European” French policy......Page 221 Appendix 1 EU Trade with Main Partners 1999......Page 224 Appendix 2 EU Trade with Main Partners 2001......Page 225 Notes......Page 226 Bibliography......Page 242 C......Page 271 E......Page 273 F......Page 275 G......Page 276 I......Page 277 M......Page 278 P......Page 279 S......Page 280 V......Page 281 Z......Page 282 This Book Applies Europeanization Theory To French Policy In East Asia, Testing The Extent To Which Three Dimensions Of The Europeanization Process Are Evident And Mutually Compatible. Whether And How Eu Membership And The Common Foreign And Security Policy (cfsp) Make A Difference To French Policy And Vice Versa, Is Evaluated Over The Period Covering The Second Term Of President Francois Mitterrand (1988-95) And The First Term Of President Jacques Chirac (1995-2002). French Preferences, Statements And Actions Are Compared With Those Of Community Institutions (the Commission, The European Parliament), The Council And Other Major Eu Member States (especially Germany And Britain). Most Studies Argue That If There Is Any Europeanization Taking Place, It Is Limited Only To The Bottom-up National Projection Variant That Seeks To Amplify French Policies As European, Id Est To 'gallicise' European Policy. This Study Examines The Record Of French And Eu Interactions With China, Japan And Vietnam In The Areas Of Economic Exchanges, Political-security Relations And Human Rights. It Argues That The Utility And Impact Of Eu Institutions And The Cfsp On French Foreign Policy Behaviour Is More Significant Than Is Commonly Imagined Or Admitted, And That The Foreign Policies Of Eu Member States Tend Over The Long Term Towards Covnergence. Part 1: Introduction -- Part 2: French And Eu Objectives In East Asia: Which Affects Which? -- French Objectives In East Asia -- The European Union's Objectives In East Asia -- Interplay Between French And European Foreign Policies -- Part 3: China: A Gaullist Partner? -- Trade And Investment Relations -- Political And Security Relations -- Human Rights -- Conclusions -- Part 4: Japan: Beyond Fascination And Suspicion -- Economic And Trade Relations -- Political-strategic Relations -- Human Rights -- Conclusions -- Part 5: Vietnam: Relations Privilegiees In Southeast Asia? -- Trade And Aid -- Political-security Objectives -- Human Rights -- Conclusions -- Part 6: Conclusion. Reuben Yik-pern Wong. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book applies, "Europeanization" theory to French policy in East Asia, testing the extent to which three dimensions of the Europeanization process are evident and mutually compatible. Most studies argue that if there is any Europeanization taking place, it is limited only to the bottom-up national projection variant that seeks to amplify French policies as European, that is to "Gallicize" European policy. This study examines the record of French and Eu interactions with China, Japan and Vietnam in the areas of economic exchanges, political-security relations and human rights. It argues that the impact of EU institutions and the CFSP on French foreign policy behaviour is more significant than is commonly imagined or admitted, and that the foreign policies of EU member states tend over the long term towards convergence."--Jacket This study examines the record of French and EU interactions with China, Japan and Vietnam in the areas of economic exchanges, political security relations and human rights to establish if there has been a trend of converging 'European' politics and collective European conceptions of interest and identity. It argues that the utility and impact of EU institutions on French foreign policy behaviour is more significant than is commonly imagined or admitted, and that foreign policies of EU member states tend over the long term towards convergence.