Contemporary French Security Policy in Africa, 1st ed. 2020
On Ideas and Wars
The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy Series

Despite efforts to normalize its post-colonial relationship and the downsizing of its permanent military presence, France remains a sought-after security provider in Africa. This book uncovers individual and collective motivations that drive French foreign and security policy in Africa. It explains French interventionism by drawing on actors? subjective perceptions of reality and seeks to answer why French decision-makers are ready to accept the considerable risks and costs involved in guaranteeing the security of African countries. Adopting an actor-centric constructivist ontology, the author traces the emergence and subsequent development of ideas throughout the decision-making processes that led to Operation Serval in Mali and Operation Sangaris in the Central African Republic.

Benedikt Erforth holds a PhD in International Studies from the University of Trento and has taught international relations, foreign policy, and EU politics at Sciences Po Paris, France. His work has been published in Millennium, the Cambridge Review of International Affairs, and the European Review of International Affairs.

Provides new insights into France’s foreign and defence policy, the country’s political aspirations in Africa, and its impact on European external action Considers the actors’ subjective perceptions and motivations as the key to understanding France’s actions Constitutes an anthropology of decision-making, telling the story of those politicians, civil servants, and military leaders that are the makers of France’s military actions