France After World War II

The Second World War created a massive damage worldwide. It took millions of lives, destroyed properties, and left many people homeless. Nations from around the world tried to move on after this devastating event, but despite their efforts, their recovery was hampered by many factors.

Among the nations that suffered great loss because of the war was France. Its aim toward economic recovery, like all the other countries, became almost stagnant due to reasons beyond its control. It was believed that the main causes of its slowed recovery were “political troubles at home and colonial revolts overseas.” [qtd. in France, Reddy, and Laprade 2]. Also, among the contributors to France’s worsened economic condition after WWII were its low production rate and the rapid inflation that was brought about by excess in money. 

However, the French government, headed by then President Charles de Gaulle made every effort to rebuild the nation.  France was able to obtain the finances necessary for its recovery, part of which, were provided by the United States, through the Marshall Plan, a financial assistance program of the United States which extended help in rebuilding European nations that were devastated by the World War II. The fact that France was in need of all the financial support it could get in order to fully recover from the aftermath of the war and to regain its economic stability did not weaken its determination to be free from the control of the two most powerful nations in the world – the United States (US) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). France’s desire to sever all ties with the US was so intense that it even preventedBritain, a close US ally, to join the European Economic Community (EEC), or otherwise known as the Common Market.

In 1949, France joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and became one of its founding members. NATO, an organization whose members were mostly European countries, aimed to provide a collective security by agreeing to defend one another from possible attacks of terrorist groups or any threats to international peace and stability. But having the United States as the leader of the alliance, France eventually withdrew its forces from NATO. Its search for a “more independent military posture” [qtd. in France, Adams, et. al.] however, was said to be one of the reasons for its withdrawal. 

France’s problems were only starting to be resolved when it was again burdened with yet another pressing matter. This time concerning its territories overseas, particularly Algeria, wherein the Arab Algerians wanted their independence with an intensity that was equal with the European settlers’ demand for French rule. Although the French government tried to put an end to the Algerian crisis by way of peace negotiation, its efforts seemed to be futile. The height of the more than eight-year war, which happened between 1954 and 1962, almost caused Franceits downfall, that in the end, it was forced to grant independence to the said French colony. The Algerian crisis was followed by several other colonial revolts which led to the disintegration ofFrance’s once expansive colonial empire. However, despite what happened, France was able to maintain its warm relationship with its former colonies.

France continued to seek independence from the US influence. And by the end of the 1950s, it made another step toward breaking all its connections with the United States when it ordered that all US bomber bases located in the country be closed.

 

In the following years, after settling its overseas crisis, it launched a very costly, yet successful program – the development of nuclear weapons capable of striking from air, land and sea. It was believed that the reason why France set out to proceed with the said program despite its high cost, was in order for it to “reduce dependence on the American nuclear umbrella” [Funk and Wagnalls 446].

France was adamant to earn the respect and admiration of other nations. It wanted to prove to the world that it can stand on its own, without accepting any form of support from a powerful country such as the United States. Furthermore, it wanted to show the world that it could rise to power and that in doing so, could play an important role in world affairs.                 

 

Adams and his team believe that:

France’s strong support to the European integration under the auspices of the European Union was perhaps its most significant role in the international affairs since it dissolved its overseas empire.

 

In the midst of its struggle for recovery and economical stability, France made sure that it would not be a subject of mockery or pity. It showed strength and determination as it continued to recover from what seemed to be irreparable damages that the war had caused. It weaved its way to fame and success by making its political importance known and acknowledged by other countries. And even after its colonial empire crumbled, France found a means to lift the spirits of the French people by convincing them that their nation was still of great importance in the international affairs.

 

To sum it all up, France indeed had succeeded in proving to the world that it was not only capable of merely being an ordinary follower and member but that it also had the power to lead other nations in obtaining a common goal.

SOURCES:

Adams, William James, Terry G. Jordan-Bychkov,  and Thomas E. Kaiser “France.”

Microsoft® Encarta® [CD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2005.   “France.” Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 1986.  

Reddy, William M., Ph.D., and William T. Laprade, “France.” World Book 2003 Deluxe Edition [CD]. Chicago, Illinois: World Book, Inc, 2002.