Chirac's role in French foreign policy during the Iraqi crisis

• Main Authors: De Guzman, Pamela Gileanne A., Fulgencio, Ma. Anna Katerina C., Rocafort, Kristian R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Chirac, Jacques, > 1932-2019. France > Foreign relations > Arab countries; Arab countries > Foreign relations > France; International and Area Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10817
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study focused on the importance of individuals in foreign-policy decision making process. Specifically how Chirac steered French foreign policy in opposing the US in its bid to war against Iraq. The role of Chirac was analyzed using a Constructivist account of foreign policy. The study was divided into two major chapters Chirac's set of actions in the domestic and international level. It is essential to first analyze the domestic level because foreign policies are created and affected by local factors in a country. Chirac considered public opinion regarding the war and French business interests in France to oppose the Iraqi war. In the international level, Chirac formed alliances with different states, used international organizations as a stage to voice out his opposition, and used the international media to project French foreign policy.