By: George Friedman
Published: 5 /16 / 2012; http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/georgefriedman
Level of Difficulty: ****
Note to the Reader: It is suggested that you do
this reading task after having completed “The Geopolitics of France” – also on
this blog – as the latter covers twelve centuries of French history with the
exception of de Gaulle’s term in office which this text covers. You will have
thus got the whole picture. One point though: for this activity, you work
against the clock. Your time limit is 40 minutes and it starts now!
QUESTIONS
1.
What
is Hollande’s real agenda?
2.
The
two events that determined France’s current strategy are: …………………………………………..
3.
France’s
strategy of forming alliances to deal with Germany backfired because …………………….
4.
Charles
de Gaulle had a formidable task before him. What was it?
5.
De
Gaulle’s wish for an independent European force stemmed from his belief that
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6.
De
Gaulle’s main objection to a communist government in France was that …………………………
7.
De
Gaulle believed that if France were in trouble, America would act in the way it
always had and not enter the fray …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8.
De
Gaulle’s desire to enable France to defend itself resulted in France’s amassing
…………………
9.
France
in particular and Europe in general wished to avoid further violence through
…………………………………………………………and ………………………………………………………………………………
10.
In
what way did de Gaulle’s views differ from those of other NATO leaders?
11.
What
weakness of the EU was de Gaulle able to foretell?
12.
Future
presidents of France only partially agreed with de Gaulle in that …………………………………
13.
What
current view that Hollande entertains would de Gaulle have accepted and why is
this ironical?
KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
This is the last little leg of our lesson on
French history: the period of de Gaulle; the one leader The Geopolitics of
France doesn’t touch on. History is one of the most popular topics in class
according to my observations as the students are hungry for the correct facts.
This text should, therefore, fly after its brother, The Geopolitics of France,
which should precede it. The added bonus is that George Friedman CAN WRITE big
time. There is a time limit here but if you want to go more slowly, that is
your prerogative.
1.
To
continue France’s struggle for a dominant role in European affairs at a time of
German ascendance.
2.
The
defeat of Napoleon in 1815 and the emergence of Britain as the world’s dominant
naval power; the unification of Germany
3.
The
combination of forces facing Germany convinced Berlin that it had to strike
first ( so that…)
4.
He
wanted France to retain its ability to act independently of the two major
powers if necessary.
5.
An
American president would not risk a nuclear counterattack OR the American
guarantees were a bluff.
6.
It
would mean the end of an independent Europe.
7.
Until
the Europeans had first bled the Soviets dry.
8.
Independent
military capabilities sufficient to deter a Soviet attack OR a nuclear arsenal.
9.
Establishing
a security alliance and some sort of economic union
10.
He
could not accept that French troops were automatically tied to a war plan or
were automatically under the command of somebody who wasn’t French.
11.
National
interests would always dominate.
12.
They
accepted his argument that France has to pursue its own interests but not his
obsession with sovereignty.
13.
Hollande will not necessarily be predisposed
to German solutions for Europe’s problems. Hollande is a socialist.
No comments:
Post a Comment