Actually, Russia has invaded and occupied France, albeit in coalition with other European powers. The Russian Army participated in the Battle of Paris and the city’s occupation during the War of the Sixth Coalition, and then was apportioned a part of northeastern France for occupation under the Second Treaty of Paris in 1815.
Frankly, people here were *relieved* to see sane people show up, by that point. I mean, if ever there was an occasion where the occupiers were greeted, if not as liberators, then as--"okay, fair enough, we just want an end to the drama"--that was it.
Not to mention another reason for the post-Bismarck Franco-Russian rapprochement was Bismarck's immediate successor Leo von Caprivi's deliberate lapse of the Reinsurance Treaty. Especially right after Kaiser Wilhelm II had specifically assured the Russian ambassador that said treaty would in fact be renewed.
Apr 10, 2022·edited Apr 10, 2022Liked by Claire Berlinski
This is a really great article that explains some of the things that were missing in the abbreviated piece in Politico. There are however, still some inaccuracies I would like to point out. Mitterand famously backed Reagan and Schmidt/Kohl quite strongly during the Euro-Missile crisis. Mitterand's wife was famously anti-American although I have always wondered what his mistress thought of the US who he was closer to anyways. In terms of Chirac he famously was interested in a lot of countries outside of France, to describe him as a Russophile I think has to be put into context of Chirac's deep interest in both the US and Japan(although I have been told recently the later was in the context of an extramarital affair and airlines tickets being paid in cash for Chirac by certain Corsicans). Chirac towards the end of his 1st term famously became deeply interested in Canada something remarkable for a French politician very invested in the Quebec Nationalist movement and historically disinterested in Canadian Federal institutions. Chirac became very close to Canada's Francophone Prime Minister of the day Jean Chretien(We could have a whole discussion about Chretien's views on Russia which perhaps could also be called Russophile). A more cynical person might suggest this was an effort by Chirac to loosen a more wobbly member of Five Eyes from the US and UK but his relationship with Chretien is well documents. Of course both Chirac and Chretien opposed the 2003 Iraq War but the bonds between the two had actually started a few years earlier.
Tim, I have a question I should have asked way sooner: How did you get so interested in French politics? Is it professional, just a hobby? Because you know this country like the back of your hand--it's quite remarkable.
Apr 11, 2022·edited Apr 11, 2022Liked by Claire Berlinski
It's very long story. The quick story is I worked as a policy advocate IN Washington, DC(I once got to meet Victoria Nuland at a cocktail party) for a non-profit group based in France some of whose management knew Arun Kapil and told me about him and his blog. From reading his blog I then found out about you from before you even started the Cosmopolitan Globalist back when I think you guys went to the Communist Party festival.
**The long story is I actually knew quite a bit about France before I even started working with said non-profit group but I would be up all night talking about how I came to know so much. A lot of what I did in Washington is talking to people who knew very little about what was in France in France about what was going on in France.
***Something I didn't know until yesterday is just how many famous people Jerome Clavel has met in the US relative to the average Frenchman.
Oh, and boy have you got an ear for French gossip. You filed that anecdote about Chirac, the mistress, Japan, and the Corsicans in the "IMPORTANT" file of your brain, whereas I would have forgotten it promptly, putting it all under the heading of, "Yeah, well--Chirac." (I'll probably remember it now, having been exposed to the story twice.)
That makes perfect sense. You've got exactly the kind of knowledge of France you'd need to work as a policy advocate in DC for a French NGO. But now you need to complement that by coming here and *enjoying* France. Because the point of France, really, isn't the politics. For dramatic *politics,* you want a country like Turkey. That's a place where *everything* hinges on politics.
For seriously good food, wine, a beautiful language, civilization, and lots of strange social rules that are fun to learn--if you're in the right spirit--because in a way they all come to make sense, you want France.
I actually have been to France but I will be honest the trip was a bit businesslike. I did see a lot of the sights in Paris but it was very go go go which everyone I have talked to in France has told me is NOT the point of enjoying being in France.
Actually, Russia has invaded and occupied France, albeit in coalition with other European powers. The Russian Army participated in the Battle of Paris and the city’s occupation during the War of the Sixth Coalition, and then was apportioned a part of northeastern France for occupation under the Second Treaty of Paris in 1815.
Oh, that? C'mon, that barely counted. Talleyrand gave the keys to the city to the Tsar.
An invasion and occupation’s an invasion and occupation. Doesn’t matter that Ol’ Boney needed a damn good thrashing!
Frankly, people here were *relieved* to see sane people show up, by that point. I mean, if ever there was an occasion where the occupiers were greeted, if not as liberators, then as--"okay, fair enough, we just want an end to the drama"--that was it.
Still, it’s a well written and enlightening essay. Thank you, Claire!
Not to mention another reason for the post-Bismarck Franco-Russian rapprochement was Bismarck's immediate successor Leo von Caprivi's deliberate lapse of the Reinsurance Treaty. Especially right after Kaiser Wilhelm II had specifically assured the Russian ambassador that said treaty would in fact be renewed.
This is a really great article that explains some of the things that were missing in the abbreviated piece in Politico. There are however, still some inaccuracies I would like to point out. Mitterand famously backed Reagan and Schmidt/Kohl quite strongly during the Euro-Missile crisis. Mitterand's wife was famously anti-American although I have always wondered what his mistress thought of the US who he was closer to anyways. In terms of Chirac he famously was interested in a lot of countries outside of France, to describe him as a Russophile I think has to be put into context of Chirac's deep interest in both the US and Japan(although I have been told recently the later was in the context of an extramarital affair and airlines tickets being paid in cash for Chirac by certain Corsicans). Chirac towards the end of his 1st term famously became deeply interested in Canada something remarkable for a French politician very invested in the Quebec Nationalist movement and historically disinterested in Canadian Federal institutions. Chirac became very close to Canada's Francophone Prime Minister of the day Jean Chretien(We could have a whole discussion about Chretien's views on Russia which perhaps could also be called Russophile). A more cynical person might suggest this was an effort by Chirac to loosen a more wobbly member of Five Eyes from the US and UK but his relationship with Chretien is well documents. Of course both Chirac and Chretien opposed the 2003 Iraq War but the bonds between the two had actually started a few years earlier.
Tim, I have a question I should have asked way sooner: How did you get so interested in French politics? Is it professional, just a hobby? Because you know this country like the back of your hand--it's quite remarkable.
It's very long story. The quick story is I worked as a policy advocate IN Washington, DC(I once got to meet Victoria Nuland at a cocktail party) for a non-profit group based in France some of whose management knew Arun Kapil and told me about him and his blog. From reading his blog I then found out about you from before you even started the Cosmopolitan Globalist back when I think you guys went to the Communist Party festival.
**The long story is I actually knew quite a bit about France before I even started working with said non-profit group but I would be up all night talking about how I came to know so much. A lot of what I did in Washington is talking to people who knew very little about what was in France in France about what was going on in France.
***Something I didn't know until yesterday is just how many famous people Jerome Clavel has met in the US relative to the average Frenchman.
Oh, and boy have you got an ear for French gossip. You filed that anecdote about Chirac, the mistress, Japan, and the Corsicans in the "IMPORTANT" file of your brain, whereas I would have forgotten it promptly, putting it all under the heading of, "Yeah, well--Chirac." (I'll probably remember it now, having been exposed to the story twice.)
That makes perfect sense. You've got exactly the kind of knowledge of France you'd need to work as a policy advocate in DC for a French NGO. But now you need to complement that by coming here and *enjoying* France. Because the point of France, really, isn't the politics. For dramatic *politics,* you want a country like Turkey. That's a place where *everything* hinges on politics.
For seriously good food, wine, a beautiful language, civilization, and lots of strange social rules that are fun to learn--if you're in the right spirit--because in a way they all come to make sense, you want France.
I actually have been to France but I will be honest the trip was a bit businesslike. I did see a lot of the sights in Paris but it was very go go go which everyone I have talked to in France has told me is NOT the point of enjoying being in France.