Original research article
Przegląd Europejski – European Studies Quarterly

Multilateralism as a tool of French foreign policy

2026, No. 3

Tomasz Młynarski

0000-0002-7713-6307

Jagiellonian University in Cracow (Cracow, Poland)

DOI

10.31338/1641-2478pe.3.26.3

Publication date

24.09.2026

Submission date

02.03.2026

Acceptance date

18.06.2026

Publishing model

open access

License type

CC BY 4.0 Int.

Field

Social sciences

Discipline

political and administrative sciences, international relations, sociology, law, economics and finance, management and quality studies, social communication and media studies

Language of publication

English

Number of views:36

Number of downloads:0

Crossref citations:0

Altmetric score:0

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse the role of multilateralism as one of the general lines of French foreign policy in face of the growing erosion of multilateral diplomacy, growing geopolitical tensions and the fragmentation of the world order. From France’s perspective, the idea of multilateral cooperation is not only an effective model for managing global challenges, but also an instrument for preserving the attributes of great power status in the future world order. Multilateralism is not viewed as an abstract normative preference, but as a structured instrument of French foreign policy, rooted in the Gaullist legacy and implemented by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. It has become a diplomatic tool for building France’s influence and leadership legitimacy through active participation in international structures and creating an image of a country capable of being a leader in key global issues. At the same time, this is an expression of a deeper political philosophy, which assumes that only in a multipolar world France can maintain its position as a significant actor in a post-hegemonic system.

Keywords:

France,foreign policy,multilateralism,“balancing power”,Emmanuel Macron,European strategic autonomy

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