Beside Hegemony

This book delves into a historical retrospection, present assessment, and prospective outlook of France's policy towards Russia and the dynamics of Franco-Russian relations following the Cold War. The historical review tracks the development of Russia policies under the five French presidents of the post-Cold War era, encapsulating the shifts and consistencies within. The current examination segment provides a comprehensive view of Franco-Russian relations across economic, political, military, and technological domains; it uses the Georgia War, Syrian conflict, and Ukraine crisis as case studies to dissect France's stance towards Russia amidst crises, comparing their commonalities and divergences; it also examines the competitive and collaborative ties between France and Russia in Africa, the Middle East, and the Arctic regions. The book further conducts an in-depth analysis of the shifts in the relevant international and domestic contexts post-Cold War, the transformation of France's foreign and defense policies, and the perceptions of Russia and Franco-Russian relations among the French elite. It incorporates Braudel's 'longue duree' perspective to comprehend France's policy towards Russia from the academic underpinnings of bilateral relations between France and Russia. Concluding the discourse, the book discusses potential trends in the evolution of Franco-Russian relations and their implications for regional and global spheres.