Mitterrand's Central And Eastern Europe Policies After The End Of Cold War

My thesis is focused on the analysis of Mitterrand's policies in Central and Eastern Europe after the end of Cold War. It is mainly divided into three parts: the policies on German reunification, about other Eastern European countries and about the EU's eastward enlargement. Mitterrand's policies on the reunification of two Germanys were composed with his complex concern about the change of France and Germany's balance and status; the policies about other Eastern European countries highlighted the diplomatic and idealistic interaction between the two sides; his attitude about the preparation of the EU's eastward enlargement was reflected in his participation and influence in EU's main policies and plans.Mitterrand's European thought has inherited Gaullism's main principles. He exercised primarily two ways to limit the expansion of the German strength: the stringent requirement of the inviolability of German-Polish border and the insistence of a unified Germany's integration into the European monetary union. The aims of Mitterrand's policies on other Eastern European countries were to expand French influence in the region and to ensure that their accession to the European community will not affect the original plans inside the Union. The idealistic collision between Mitterrand and Eastern heretics reflected their differences. This kind of misunderstanding has caused Mitterrand's "European confederation" program's failure. But Germany's support and the "cohabitation" inside France have gradually changed Mitterrand's attitude about the eastward enlargement. In order not to make the enlarged European Union into a loose organization, Mitterrand and other leaders promoted lots of deepening reforms. This process also embodied the principles of Neo-functionalism which emphasize the benefits of each interest group and the "compatibility" inside the organization.In short, at the time when the Cold War ended, Mitterrand's Central and Eastern European policies have fully reflected his so-called "large Europe dream", which demands that an Europe where France occupies an important position can play a key role in the world.