The balance of domestic and foreign policies can be defined as being a challenging task. While there is the need to work towards national values and goals, there is the same urge to ensure that there are positive and productive relations with other countries (Morse, 2015). Foreign policy is thus a document that outlines approachesthat a country takes in relation to other nations. In France, for instance, the president is given the absolute power of both conducting and devising foreign policies. While the absolute powers give the president unlimited authority in pursuing nationalgoals, there is the risk that inexperienced or personswithout a definite vision may cause significant damage to internationalrelations.

Since the reign of De Gaulle and Mitterrand, France can be defined as having maintained its foreign policy. It is worth noting that France is a permanent member of the United Nations, and, thus,takes a leading role in the coordination of global operations. France’sforeignpolicy is based on the concept of strategic independence within a regional alliance (Friend, 2018). Its foreignpolicy can further be defined as being influenced by the UN membership as well as the Franco-German reconciliation that was spearheaded by Mitterrand and de Gaulle.  During the Chirac reign, the France foreign policy can be defined as having been marked by increased opposition to the British policies such as its intrusion to Iraq.

Chirac foreign policy was also against the attempts to create the EuropeanConstitution. Chirac argued that the move would lead to the loss of the country’s sovereignty. However, the standpoint changed during the reign of Nicolasy Sarkozy(2007-2012) and Francois Hollande who held office from 2012 to 2017. The changes in the France foreign policy during this period can be linked to a series of terrorist attacks as well as the economic crises in the country. Nonetheless, a series of past global events indicate that there is a significant reduction in the number of contributions made by France in global policies.

The election of Donald Trump, the coup attempt in Turkey, and Brexit are some of the global events that indicatethat France has taken a reserved position in global political and economic activities. Many political analysts are of the view that France does not have any serious commitments in global matters. Suchtrends in Franceindicate that there is a decreasing commitment to foreignactivities. The case is unlike Russia which is defined as having been in the leading front in spearheadingfor global policies.  However, recentelections have seen some shifts in foreign policies. The president now acknowledges the need to ensure that there is full participation in global activities.

For many years, the Frenchforeignpolicy was based on values that were proposed by both Mitterrand and de Gaulle. However, the changing nature of international relations and policies is making it necessary to change policies that are held by France. The prevalence of many domestic problems can be defined as having significantimpacts on the country’s local systems. An example is the imbalanced public resources. It is worth noting that manyEuropean partners are keen on evaluating the political and economic stability of their allies. The policies held by France indicate that it is impossible to stick by the set treaties and regulations in the region.

The high debtlevel further makes the country vulnerable to changes in the regional interest rates. The EuropeanCentralBankadopts a position that helps to foster the economic stability of its members. The need to reformits economic structures implies that France holds a less dominant position in global politics. It makes it impossible for the country to make a staunch stand on most of the global policies. Franceforeign policy is thus based onbest ways that the state can protect its interest. During the campaigns, Emmanuel Macron, the currentpresident, noted that a shift to protectionism would mark his reign.

However, the protectionism policy is viewed as being against the concept of free trade as outlined in the EU. Many peopleargue thatprotectionism approach can only be attained in a case where the country leaves the EuropeanUnion. Being a member of the EU implies that France would be compelled to stick to all regulations and provisions of the regional organization. The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, notes that there is a need to addressproblems that come with the EU trade policy.  Some of the thorny issues that need tobe addressed by the policy include relationships with other countries and the impacts that it would have on the economicaffiliations. On the other hand, there is an ongoing analysis of consequences that would come from leaving the European Union like it was the case with the United Kingdom.

Ongoing environmental trends furtherinfluence France foreign policies. The need to address issues such as global warming has led to increased levels of cooperation. Being a member of the UN implies that France is involved in the budgeting of the creation of policies to counter global warming. As such, Emmanuel Macron exhibits a significant commitment to combat the problem of environmental change. In 2015, there was the adoption of an agreementamong 195 countries in Paris that sought to counter the impacts of global warming (Liang, 2016, 35). The Francegovernmentexhibits the global agreement to counter environmental threatsby creating local policies to ensure thatcarbonemission levels are put at the minimum.

Having a low carboneconomy is regarded as being a way that global sustainability can be attained and other problems in the country addressed (Kruger, 2018, 200).  In recent years, Emmanuel Macron administration has defended climateactivism and increased the budgetfor environmental conservation efforts. Another dogma can be seen in the EU energy policy. While many political ideologies and interest assume it, France has undertaken the urge to ensure that there is an introduction of clean sources of energy in the country. Despite the fracturedEnergyUnion in the European Union, Emmanuel Macron has made tremendous steps in ensuring that positive gains are made.

Global security is also another area that influencesFrance’sforeignpolicy. In the past five years, the country has experienced terrorist attacks (Wong, 2017, 150). Emmanuel Macron acknowledges the fact that terrorism is a serious global threat that requires the contribution of different stakeholders. The need to counter this threat has seen the country create links with other countries such as the USA and the United Kingdom. It can thus be argued that the Franceforeign policy is based on the protection of its interest as well as ensuring that there is a pursuit of regional/global interest. Its relation with other countries is instrumental in boosting its political relevance in the global stage, economic stability, and security.

There are two major theories used in foreign policy analysis; realism and liberalismtheories (Telo and Ponjaert, 2015.p.73). Realist school of thought believes that the world is archaic, and, thus, human nature plays a significant role in world politics. State politics is driven by individuals who seek to accumulate more power and maintain an upper hand in international anarchy. The realist analysis of domestic politics suggests that power is not an end, but a means to achieve the dominant societal value. A state’s cherished values are found in its structural societal institutions, and, thus, they together with history and geography make up a particular foreign policy decision. Moreover, realists believe that states may long for past moments of glory, and, therefore, lean towards looking back at past achievements(Goldsteinand Keohane,2013, 36).

Liberalists admit that there are various factors that affect foreign policy formulation. Thus, countries needto join efforts together to form policies and laws through treaties to solve common problems and differences amongst themselves. These issues may include emerging issues like global warming, climate change, terrorism, refugees, and poverty. As such, international organizations have been set up by different states through treaties to help in solving some of these problems by categorizing them into three distinct areas; military, economic, and social sectors(Goldstein and Keohane,2013, 36). In liberalism, democracy and capitalism are correlated and occupy the interest of states(Sacht, 2018 .p.22)

As discussed earlier, the head of state is part and parcel of any foreign policy that the country pursues. Under realism, it was noted that there is a strong degree of pessimism contrary to other people`s view that the world is peaceful. Moreover, realismfocuses more on political issues as opposed to other aspects of the state. As such, realism theory can be defined as an urge through which human beings and states seek to exercise or maximize power. Power is also considered to be endless and repetitive with no enduring solution, and, finally, it is characterized by a clear cut distinction between domestic and international politics (Telo and Ponjaert, 2015 .p.73)

On the other hand, in liberalism, institutions play a huge role in decision making. Unlike realism, a state is not a unitary actor. This creates a lot of limitation to leaders in guiding actionsthat the state takes in the political system. As such, liberal leaders have been seen to be only peaceful with their counterparts, but not with non-liberal. In a nutshell, whether positive or negative, leaders play an essential role in the formulation of foreign policy (Sacht, 2018 .p.22).

European states’ policy formulations largely borrow from the liberalism school of thought. However certain aspects of realism cannot be ignored. The European Union member states signed the treaty to deal with their social, economic issues cooperatively collectively. As such, France finds a balance between its economic interest and steadiness of power in Europe in its interactions internationally.

References

Friend, J.W., 2018. The long presidency: France in the Mitterrand years, 1981-1995. Routledge.

Liang, C.S., 2016. Europe for the Europeans: The foreign and security policy of the radical populist right. In Europe for the Europeans (pp. 19-50).Routledge.

Morse, E., 2015. Foreign policy and interdependence in Gaullist France (Vol. 1366).Princeton University Press.

Wong, R., 2017. The Role of the Member States: The Europeanization of Foreign Policy?.International Relations and the European Union, Third Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.143-164.

Krüger, L.T., and Stahl, B., 2018. The French foreign policy U-turn in the Arab Spring–the case of Tunisia.Mediterranean Politics, 23(2), pp.197-222.

GOLDSTEIN, J., & KEOHANE, R. O. (2013). Ideas and foreign policy: beliefs, institutions, and political change. Ithaca, Cornell University Press.

SACHS, J. (2018). A new foreign policy: beyond American exceptionalism.

TELÒ, M., & PONJAERT, F. (2015). The EU’s foreign policy: what kind of power and diplomatic action? http://site.ebrary.com/id/10653131

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