The Effectiveness of Napoleon III's Foreign Policy

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The Effectiveness of Napoleon III's Foreign Policy

In general terms, Napoleon's foreign policy was much less successful

than his domestic policy was. Generally speaking, the aims of his

foreign policy were to present France as the champion of oppressed

people throughout Europe, to create new countries, which would be

grateful to France, to maintain good relation with Britain and to

maintain a balance of power between Austria and Prussia.

Napoleon's foreign policy was shown effective in the Crimean War

1854-56. His aims were to increase French prestige, to isolate

Austria, to diminish Russian influence and to maintain good relation

with Britain. In the Crimean War, France was successful in achieving

these aims. According to Norman Rich, " France was the state that

seemed to have gained most from the war." This quotation shows us that

his foreign policy was able to achieve his aims. French armies had won

the most impressive victories in the Final attacks on Sevastopol and

France had supplanted Russia as the dominant power in Europe, which

helped France to increase her prestige. Besides, he was succeeded in

isolating Austria in the war. Austria was interested in the war but

she was reluctant to risk opposing Russia unless she received military

guarantees from France and Britain. Thus, Austria became neutrality

antagonized all the belligerents with the result that until 1879

Austria was without friends among the great powers. However, France

was lost the friendship of Austria in isolating her. Moreover, he was

succeeded in diminishing Russian influence in Near East, Turkey and

Europe. However, at the same time, he lost the friendship of...

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...policy led to the establishment of Liberal

Empire. Many problems were created as a result o the government's

isolation from the country and its weakness. There was increasing

critism of the Second Empire such as conflicts between a policy of

support for liberal cause abroad and dictatorship at home, failures in

foreign policies and free trade with Britain. Opposition thus created.

In order to minimize opposition and to get the support of liberals, a

compromise was reached. In January 1870, the Liberal Empire was

established.

From the above we can be seen, Napoleon III's foreign policy was quite

effective in the period of Crimean War. However, his foreign was

became failure after the year 1860. It was not only affected the

political development of France up to 1871, but also affected the

development in the future.

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