Guidelines for Negotiators

The French are considered the most difficult partner to deal with in the West. They alone among the leading states in the Atlantic system have а conception of national interest and а pattern of diplomacy that violates many of the expectations of friendly, accommodating behavior among allies. French foreign policy have gradually become more pragmatic and flexible since the Gaullist era. This change is due to а reduced scale of ambition in the world and to France' s growing reconciliation to the European, Atlantic, and East-West status quo that makes Paris more conciliatory within Western diplomacy while adopting а firmer line on East-West issues. In European Community affairs, in particular, French behavior is now remarkable for its "community spirit" so that the confrontational tactics of the past seem unlikely to be revived. There is, indeed, а range of French diplomatic styles that vary with the issue, the participants, and the forum — very congenial within the privileged Franco-German рагtnership; community-minded in the ЕЕС except when dealing with the British anti-ЕЕС spirit; still quite independent and sovereignty minded on defense and security matters; more clearly adversarial and "Western" when dealing with the East than during de Gaulle's time; somewhat patronizing when engaged in African affairs; defensive and sensitive to perceived inferiority on international economic issues; and, finally, а complex mixture of wary friendliness and reflexive suspicion, even confrontation, in relations with the United States.

Postwar French foreign policy has probably been most contentious when dealing with the United States. The significance of this development is that France no longer seeks or is particularly enthusiastic about occasions for opposing the United States. On the other hand, France remains unique within the West as the only major ally inherently willing to oppose and even antagonize Washington when conflicts of interest and policy warrant such an attitude. In this sense, it seems that French-American relations will remain а special category among Western allies.

EXERCISE 5. Increase your skills in translating and rendering.

Translate one of the passages of the texts from Russian into English in written form. Render the text in English.