Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and ...

Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and Napoleon III
Chapter IV: A hyperactive foreign policy dedicated to France’s glory and
oscillating between humanistic and Realpolitik considerations
« Le temps d’une crise, Nicolas Sarkozy a bonapartisé l’Europe. C’est ce qu’il fait à la puissance
dix depuis que l’économie-monde est atteinte d’épilepsie. Face aux épreuves et aux périls, le
président bonapartiste se métamorphose en Vishnou, le dieu aux quatre bras. Les ordres
viennent de l’Elysée, les idées sortent de l’Elysée, les paroles tombent de l’Elysée. Face au
dragon de la crise, il ne saurait y avoir qu’un chevalier en armure, Saint Nicolas. L’Allemagne
rechigne, Jean-Claude Juncker s’agace, Jose Manuel Barroso se résigne. Jamais un président
du Conseil européen n’a déployé autant d’activité et d’autorité. Jamais un modèle
bonapartiste n’avait submergé auparavant le système de pouvoir cadenassé de l’Europe.»
Alain Duhamel, Sarkozy : un Bonapartisme de crise, 2008.
I. A Grands Plans policy extending the geopolitical space of France’s influence:
Nineteenth century France’s geopolitical context did not resemble the twenty-first
century one: yet, the first and latest presidents of the Hexagon handled its foreign policy in
manners that reduce considerably the cross-centuries disparities. In a fatherly-like approach of
the nation they ruled, Napoleon III and Nicolas Sarkozy had Grands Plans for France aimed at
restoring its lost prestige either over its direct neighboring vital space or over farther regions of
the globe. In fact, the Bonapartist approach to foreign policy involves the interaction of four
main elements: first a broad imperialist vision, second the reliance upon a muscular defense
strategy, third a foreign hyper-activism promoting the symposium culture, and finally the
combination of a dirigist style as a tool with the promotion of the leader nationally as a goal.
From the latter, and on the necessity of restoring France’s foreign radiation, Nicolas Sarkozy
followed Napoleon III’s footsteps and targeted three main spheres of influence: the
Mediterranean, Europe, and finally the conquest of far away geopolitical zones. Looking
A website dedicated to this project is available starting Dec 7 th 2010 at: http://www.aui.ma/personal/~Y.Assaoui/
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