Abstract
Historians and political scientists have highlighted Charles de Gaulle’s initial hostility towards European integration and tended to ignore his nationalist policies in favor of a focus on pan-European free trade systems. They have also argued that de Gaulle’s vision of establishing a “European Europe” created more problems than solutions. These scholars have primarily approached the question through a realist perspective, holding that de Gaulle believed that total integration would allow larger nations to manipulate smaller ones. This essay argues the opposite. In his effort to restore France’s reputation as a strong world power, de Gaulle actually helped to reinforce the sovereignty of smaller European nations. It will also investigate de Gaulle’s skepticism, which prompted him to propose a conservative type of integration, which in turn influenced the geopolitical structure of the European Union.
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Recommended Citation
Arellanes, Ricardo E.
(2025)
"Integration Through Reform: Le Conflit That Shaped the European Union,"
Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union:
Vol. 2025, Article 4.
Available at:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/urceu/vol2025/iss1/4
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