National Interests And Multilateral Tools: France, United Nations Diplomatic Comparative Study

Supported with theories of national interests and the use of multilateral instrument, this thesis intends to compare France's diplomacy in the United Nations during the reign of De Gaulle and that of Mitterrand. It sets the international environment, France's perceptions about itself and the outside world, and its specific activities as parameters of comparison. By studying the historical evolution of France's diplomacy in the United Nations, this thesis tries to illustrate through thecomparative analysis of the two distinctive periods the continuity of France's diplomacy, although its diplomatic activities in the United Nations varied greatly during the two periods. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate that France's diplomatic strategies in the United Nations in different international political conditions were all important efforts aimed at protecting its national interests, constructing a favorable international environment and realizing its "Big Power" dream.This thesis tries to illustrate that in the present framework of multilateralism, national interests play an extremely important role in the relationship between sovereign states. The multilateral diplomacy is always a policy instrument for the realization of national interests. However, whether or not a country will resort to multilateral diplomacy, and the specific way it uses this instrument, would be influenced by such factors as the international environment and the country's perceptions.As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to participate in multilateral diplomacy at the level of the United Nations is one of the important aspects of France's overall diplomacy. Its diplomatic activities explicitly showed that the use of the multilateral instrument is subject to the need to protect the country's national interests, which never changed during the two periods of France's history.