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

Neo-Bonapartism? A parallel between Nicolas Sarkozy and Napoleon III
of financial cooperation (creation of a Mediterranean Bank, European Central Bank style),
immigration and terrorism-related mutual support, and finally a strengthened energy and
environment regional policy. Obviously, behind Sarkozy’s federative approach of the
Mediterranean “dream of civilization”, there is more at stake than only its (clearly) stated
“general effort to rehabilitate French colonialism by accentuating its positive aspects and
showcasing its most humanitarian administrators” (Bowen, 2007). If the Mediterranean is for
Sarkozy a “key to (France’s) influence in the world” (Nash, 2008), it is also because such an
undertaking is likely to compensate for Turkey’s entry in the European Union; an access the
French head of state is vehemently opposed to since years, regarding it as threatening vis a vis
his conception of European identity (not inclusive of the Islamic tradition of the Ottomans
descendants). In addition, Sarkozy’s master plan wanted to rehabilitate its Israeli friends (as we
shall see later in this chapter) within the Arab world in a conciliatory approach, since the
Mediterranean Union meetings will be the only ones where Arab countries are supposed to
formally cooperate with Israel. Into the bargain as well a strategic raid over North Africa’s gas
reserves Sarkozy’s envisions in return for “French expertise on nuclear energy” (Nash, 2008).
However, the idea of the Mediterranean Sea as Sarkozy’s Mare Nostrum was harshly welcomed
by the European countries with no Mediterranean shore. As explained by The Economist, “the
entire project is dismissed by some in Berlin and Brussels as no better than a diversion of EU
cash to promote French gloire” (2008). Finally, and discontent with Sarkozy’s stealing of the
original EU’s Barcelona Process, the United Kingdom and Germany compelled the detachment
of the Mediterranean Union from France which “has since been forced to water down the
vision” (The Economist, 2008); it is now an EU project, not Sarkozy’s.
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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