Is "realpolitik" a requisite paradigm in foreign affairs?

Résumé du document

I want to launch a call to all those in the world who believe in the values of tolerance, of liberty and of democracy, to all the martyred women in the world to say to them that the pride, the duty of our country will be at their sides, that they can count on France'. Quoting this extract of the speech delivered by Nicolas Sarkozy on the evening of his election, I want to deal with the huge foreign affairs dilemma. It's very easy, like Sarkozy, to uphold the standard of moral values but it's more complicated to respect these values while coping with the reality of foreign affairs. When the French president received, with luxurious ceremonies, the general Khadafy, was it a proof of open-mindedness and pragmatism or an insult to the republican tradition of France and its attachment to democratic values? During my presentation, I will define exactly what is 'realpolitik' giving some examples of this kind of policy and its advantages. We always use this term to disparage some politicians initiatives, like the fact of trading with China for instance, but we often ignore the origins of this concept. I will also introduce the notion of 'noöpolitik' which emerged in contrast with 'realpolitik' and which seems to advocate another vision of foreign affairs.

Extraits

[...] It's what we will see with the following role-playing. Now, we will invent a fictitious commercial situation. The French government wants to sell planes constructed by the Airbus Company to the Chinese government. We are at the midst of a financial crisis: Nicolas Sarkozy and his team want to sell these planes at all rate. Nevertheless, Sarkozy has to convince the public opinion (which is composed of nine people). This public opinion is very divided: three people wants to favor the economical aspect of these negotiations while three others want to ameliorate human rights in China. [...]

[...] However, the French government had to foresee the behavior of the three “independent” citizens. Will Sarkozy give the priority to the human aspect or to the economical aspect? Will he obtain the favor of the majority of the civil society? We will see at the end of the game. Bibliography - ARQUILA, John, RONFELDT, David, The promise of noöpolitik (http://www.aeteluq.org/mirador/documents/ronfeldt_01.pdf). - BRAND, Donald, Realists Make Strange Bedfellows: Kennan, Kissinger and Aron (available on Jstor). - DARLING, Dallas, Idealpolitik or Realpolitik ? [...]

[...] These two authors think, nevertheless, that, in our era of communication, “realpolitik” is an archaic way to lead foreign affairs. Nowadays, a state which wants to assert its power and to improve the material conditions of its inhabitants has to use programs of “noöpolitik”. According to this notion, a modern state has to be culturally attractive for other states if it aspires to be a world power. Accentuating its attachment to some values and ideals, including the civilians in the assertion of these values, a state will extend its world influence and thus, thanks to the commercial activity, satisfy materially its population. [...]

[...] After the First World War, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States, adopted a liberal approach concerning foreign affairs: he wanted to marginalize the authoritarian governments refusing to discuss with them because of their sins in terms of human rights. What can be more moral or ethical than that? But what was the result of this conception which led to the creation of the League of Nations? It was the Second World War! Thus, for a lot of politicians, pragmatism is more efficient to avoid bloody conflict than the moral approach. Developing mercantile business with authoritarian states can provoke a relative democratic opening in these states. [...]

[...] Is “realpolitik” a requisite paradigm in foreign affairs? want to launch a call to all those in the world who believe in the values of tolerance, of liberty and of democracy, to all the martyred women in the world to say to them that the pride, the duty of our country will be at their sides, that they can count on France”. Quoting this extract of the speech delivered by Nicolas Sarkozy the evening of his election, I want to deal with the huge foreign affairs dilemma. [...]