Manchester University Press
9 Jacques Foccart
Abstract
As early as 1960, Jacques Foccart emerged as the main architect of the political construct that Jean-Pierre Dozon described as L'Etat francais contemporain et son double, l'Etat franco-africain. Foccart's actual political career began with the French Resistance: under the name of Binot, he enlisted in the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action (BCRA) in occupied France and became head of the M area network (Maine- Anjou). Foccart moulded his pragmatic approach to problems by learning how to manoeuvre skilfully among the different Gaullist currents and charting a course that was likely to solve African colonial issues. Foccart's first mission was to elicit a positive response to the 1958 constitutional referendum as he organised De Gaulle's tour through France's African colonies of Madagascar, French Equatorial Africa (AEF) and French West Africa (AOF). When Valery Giscard d'Estaing won the 1974 presidential elections, he disbanded Foccart's office, and dismissed the Gaullist adviser.
Abstract
As early as 1960, Jacques Foccart emerged as the main architect of the political construct that Jean-Pierre Dozon described as L'Etat francais contemporain et son double, l'Etat franco-africain. Foccart's actual political career began with the French Resistance: under the name of Binot, he enlisted in the Bureau Central de Renseignements et d'Action (BCRA) in occupied France and became head of the M area network (Maine- Anjou). Foccart moulded his pragmatic approach to problems by learning how to manoeuvre skilfully among the different Gaullist currents and charting a course that was likely to solve African colonial issues. Foccart's first mission was to elicit a positive response to the 1958 constitutional referendum as he organised De Gaulle's tour through France's African colonies of Madagascar, French Equatorial Africa (AEF) and French West Africa (AOF). When Valery Giscard d'Estaing won the 1974 presidential elections, he disbanded Foccart's office, and dismissed the Gaullist adviser.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations ix
- Abbreviations xi
- Notes on contributors xv
- Acknowledgements xix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Gaston Defferre’s Loi-Cadre and its application, 1956/57 15
- 2 A vocation for independence 30
- 3 French officials and the insecurities of change in sub-Saharan Africa 44
- 4 'Saving French West Africa’ 61
- 5 The French Army and Malian independence (1956–1961) 75
- 6 Transfer of military power in Mauritania 90
-
Part III Continuities and connections
- 7 Franco-African security relations at fifty 107
- 8 French coopération in the field of education (1960–1980) 120
- 9 Jacques Foccart 135
-
Part IV Anglo-French relations
- 10 Whitehall, the French Community and the Year of Africa 155
- 11 A transnational decolonisation 171
-
Part V Nationalist trajectories, border issues and conflicted memories
- 12 The changing boundaries of resistance 189
- 13 A fragmented and forgotten decolonisation 204
- 14 Through the prism of the cinquantenaire 219
- 15 Chad’s political violence at 50 233
- Bibliography 249
- Index 275
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations ix
- Abbreviations xi
- Notes on contributors xv
- Acknowledgements xix
- Introduction 1
- 1 Gaston Defferre’s Loi-Cadre and its application, 1956/57 15
- 2 A vocation for independence 30
- 3 French officials and the insecurities of change in sub-Saharan Africa 44
- 4 'Saving French West Africa’ 61
- 5 The French Army and Malian independence (1956–1961) 75
- 6 Transfer of military power in Mauritania 90
-
Part III Continuities and connections
- 7 Franco-African security relations at fifty 107
- 8 French coopération in the field of education (1960–1980) 120
- 9 Jacques Foccart 135
-
Part IV Anglo-French relations
- 10 Whitehall, the French Community and the Year of Africa 155
- 11 A transnational decolonisation 171
-
Part V Nationalist trajectories, border issues and conflicted memories
- 12 The changing boundaries of resistance 189
- 13 A fragmented and forgotten decolonisation 204
- 14 Through the prism of the cinquantenaire 219
- 15 Chad’s political violence at 50 233
- Bibliography 249
- Index 275
