Külpolitika - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet elméleti-politikai folyóirata - 1980 (7. évfolyam)

1980 / 2. szám - KÖNYVEKRŐL - Devillers, Philippe: A szovjet nemzetbiztonsági politika (1944-1978). Egy francia interpretáció (Gazdag Ferenc)

Decolonisation á la de Gaulle did not mean that France really gave up economic, military &c. positions in Africa, but on the contrary, their modernised defence, bearing in mind the changes that had taken place. Of the fifteen French colonies south of the Sahara all except Guinea and Mali remained members of the French Community after i960, formally as well. A system of military bases at every key strategic point ensured a unique and privileged position for the French military heritage.

By the end of the seventies France built up a military, economic, administrative and cultural system in decolonialised Africa which made it possible for her to defend her own, and the West’s, interests on the continent. Political limits are set to further French successes by France’s colonial past and present starkly revealed role as gendarme. There are serious problems as regards French economic

ambitions as well. An active military presence, and open intervention cannot bridge the deep, basically economic, abyss between Africa as a source of fuel and raw materials, and industrially developed France which is up against a world-wide recession and hard pressed by competitors. Difficulties in the military field as well make it increasingly clear to the French leadership that “France on her own” notions lack realism. Multilateral solutions appear as the most obvious for France as well. It is in those terms that France could best exploit her privileged position in Africa. The strengthening of the socialist system and of revolutionary forces define, in the first place, the allocation of roles between France and her allies under the conditions of neo-colonialism. It is these factors which determine the common Western and specifically French policy directed against the anticolonialist forces in Africa.