Yitzhak Rabin and the First Lebanon War – YouTube
France had significant historical ties to Lebanon dating back to the French Mandate after World War I. This historical relationship fostered cultural and political connections that France sought to maintain and strengthen under Chirac. Lebanon stood at the center of Frances’ “backyard” Francophone domination of the Middle East. President Chirac viewed post ’67 Israel with hostility and great suspicion. France pompeously assumed that Paris merited a dominant role in the “Middle East Peace Process”.
Rafic Hariri, PM 1992-98, and a personal friend of Chirac, established the Taif Agreement which brough an end to the 15 year Lebanese Civil War. Some argue that Chirac dominated Hariri. During his 2nd term as PM (’00-04) Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon in 2000, which terminated the first Lebanese Israeli war. Hezbollah opposes French domination of Lebanese politics. Hence the influence of Paris on Lebanese politics has shrivelled to almost non existence today.
France’s strategic engagement in Lebanon under President Jacques Chirac and the complex interplay of regional forces during the late 1990s and early 2000s: President Jacques Chirac viewed these ties as essential to maintaining France’s position as a stabilizing power in the Middle East, contrasting with the more military-oriented approaches of the rival super-powers.
The presence of a large Francophone population and historical French cultural ties provided a foundation for Paris to assert its influence. Chirac worked to sustain and expand these ties, seeing them as part of France’s broader ambition to exert a stabilizing and influential presence in the Middle East.
President Chirac viewed post-1967 Israel with significant suspicion and believed that France, with its historical knowledge and connections, deserved a central role in mediating peace in the region. France’s emphasis on dialogue and negotiation often put it at odds with both Israeli and U.S. policies, as well as with groups like Hezbollah that rejected Western intervention.
Hariri’s personal relationship with Chirac strengthened bilateral ties. Some analysts suggest that Chirac’s exerted a substantial influence upon Hariri; potentially shaping policies that aligned with French interests. Hezbollah, a powerful political and military organization in Lebanon, strongly opposed Western, specifically French, involvement in Lebanese politics. The group’s ideology and objectives often conflicted with France’s attempts to play a prominent role in Lebanese statecraft and peace processes.
The Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, this significant event radically shifted power dynamics in the region. While Chirac likely viewed the end of direct Israeli occupation as a potential opening for greater French involvement, it also empowered Hezbollah, which opposed foreign dominance, thereby complicating French political ambitions.
Greater Lebanon emerged in 1920, it remained a French protectorate until 1943. That period left an indelible impact on Lebanese culture, economy, and politics which greatly contributed to the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War, consequent to the French divide and rule strategies which pitted religious sects one against another. Jacques Chirac, with his Gallic flair: je ne sais quoi, enjoyed close relations not only with Lebanon’s Christian community but also with Shia and Sunni Muslims. This approach supported the notion that French foreign policy projected an inclusive and comprehensive influence, rather than focusing solely on one faction.
French political scholars have pointed out that Chirac’s relationship with Hariri provided Paris with a channel to exert soft power in the region, crucial for the French interest of maintaining influence without direct military involvement. The reconstruction projects, for instance, sometimes came with the backing of French financial and technical expertise.
The legacy of the French Mandate left a cultural and institutional mark on Lebanon that Chirac used to reinforce diplomatic and economic ties. This included promoting the French language, educational exchanges, and business partnerships that made Lebanon a bridge for French interests in the Arab world.
Books worthy of interest: “Old Interests, New Purpose: French Foreign Policy in the Middle East”. It explores the balance France strikes between cultural diplomacy and political objectives, often reflecting on its colonial past and ongoing partnerships in the region. Journals relevant to this discussion: French Politics, Culture & Society, or Middle Eastern Studies.
“French Foreign Policy in Libya and Syria (2003–2017)”. This book provides an analysis of France’s involvement in Libya and Syria, particularly how it has sought to promote democratic regimes in line with its strategic interests. It discusses the complexities of intervening in these conflicts while maintaining alliances with local actors and navigating international dynamics. An excellent source for understanding this topic is The Journal of North African Studies, which often features articles on French interventions and policies in North Africa and the Middle East.
“France’s Foreign Policy in the Middle East”. This course examines the evolution of France’s foreign policy from Chirac’s administration onwards, emphasizing its approach to peace processes, bilateral relations, and regional stability. France’s role in the Arab Spring and its relationship with Lebanon.
“Strategic Interests in the Middle East: Opposition and Support for US Foreign Policy”. Daniel W. Kuthy’s chapter delves into the nuances of French foreign policy during Chirac’s rule, particularly in how it has sometimes aligned with or opposed U.S. interests. This examination provides context for France’s strategies in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. This chapter is likely found in edited volumes or academic works on transatlantic relations or Middle Eastern politics. Journals like The Middle East Journal and International Security could have related articles discussing these themes.
Conflict Resolution 