Mudrytska K. The foreign policy strategy of France under Nicolas Sarkozy presidency.

The thesis is devoted to studying French foreign policy strategy under N. Sarkozy's presidency in the context of the further adaptation of Gaullist doctrine to XXI century's conditions. The author analyzes conceptual foundations of Paris strategy in the international arena and practical mechanisms of implementation of strategy's objectives. The study defines that the French foreign policy strategy under N. Sarkozy's presidency was based on the Gaullist principles and the French foreign policy identity: the foreign policy imperatives of France were the superiority of national independence and the autonomy of decision-making, while multipolarity was the preferred model of global balance of power. Meanwhile, the strategy relied on "new" discourses introduced under J. Chirac's presidency - ideas of "managed globalisation" and multilateral diplomacy, which were updated and completed by new elements in accordance with conditions of international environment under N. Sarkozy's presidency. As it was ascertained, in the framework of the further reorganization of French security system and the creation of "national security strategy", conventional forces acquired their own strategic role in the French strategy, which is related to force projection and crisis management. However, nuclear deterrence continues to be the basis of Paris global strategy. The main mechanisms for implementation of the French foreign policy strategy objectives are EU, NATO, bilateral relations with main European countries and USA as well as crisis management. The work ascertains the limited effectiveness of multilateral instruments (including EU and NATO) for the achievement of strategic objectives of the French foreign policy. Bilateral relations continue to represent an important channel of influence for Paris: they proved to be more efficient for dealing with tactical tasks of French strategy in many situations, in particular France and Germany were able to manage consequences of financial crisis in "Eurozone" thanks to their cooperation, and without consensus in the EU on the military operation in Libya that France and Great Britain prepared and took the lead of the "coalition of the willing".