French Soft Power and development policy in Africa under the presidencies of F. Hollande and E. Macron – a comparative analysis (2012-2021)

The subject of research in this article is the French foreign policy towards Africa during the presidency of F. Hollande (2012–2017) and E. Macron (2017-2021). The author examines in detail such aspects of this topic as a comparison of the stated bases of the foreign policy course of the two presidents in relation to Africa, the analysis of practical steps to implement these courses, in particular, the use of "Soft Power" and "Hard Power" instruments. Particular attention is paid to how Hollande's and Macron's policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of African countries correlates with actual actions to maintain French influence in the region. The main conclusions of the conducted research are the differences in the approaches of Hollande and Macron's approaches to the realization of their declared policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of African countries. The author's special contribution to the study of the topic is a detailed analysis of the use of "soft" and "hard" power instruments, showing that Hollande relied more on military presence, while Macron - on the expansion of economic and cultural cooperation.

foreign policy, Africa, France, Hollande, Macron, Soft Power, Hard Power, non-interference, economic cooperation, cultural cooperation