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Macron and the Language of Realpolitik: A Comparative Study of Macron’s Realpolitik Rhetoric Towards Russia (2017–2025) and the United States under President Trump

Nilsson, Olle LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Since ascending the French presidency in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been faced with numerous foreign policy challenges. Two of his most puzzling challenges have been the relationships with Russia and the United States. Accordingly, the aim of this paper was to study the ways in which Macron rhetorically has navigated France vis-à-vis Russia 2017-2025 and the United States under Donald Trump, in light of a Russian geopolitical threat to Europe and a president of the United States who
imposes tariffs on trade and questions the United States’ role in NATO. Analysing Macron’s speeches at “significant moments”, this thematic analysis applied a theoretical framework of realpolitik to gain understanding of how Macron’s rhetoric vis-à-vis Russia... (More)
Since ascending the French presidency in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been faced with numerous foreign policy challenges. Two of his most puzzling challenges have been the relationships with Russia and the United States. Accordingly, the aim of this paper was to study the ways in which Macron rhetorically has navigated France vis-à-vis Russia 2017-2025 and the United States under Donald Trump, in light of a Russian geopolitical threat to Europe and a president of the United States who
imposes tariffs on trade and questions the United States’ role in NATO. Analysing Macron’s speeches at “significant moments”, this thematic analysis applied a theoretical framework of realpolitik to gain understanding of how Macron’s rhetoric vis-à-vis Russia compares to his rhetoric vis-à-vis the United States. The paper found that Macron uses ambiguous rhetoric vis-à-vis Russia through seeking common ground between France and Russia, while also strategically signaling limits to French–Russian fellowship upon Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, it found that Macron uses a rhetoric of “carrots and sticks” in relation to the United States through signaling a desired positive relationship while simultaneously criticising Trump in an attempt to guide the United States in a direction that is more beneficial for France. (Less)
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author
Nilsson, Olle LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Emmanuel Macron, French foreign policy, realpolitik, France–Russia relations, France–US relations, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, thematic analysis
language
English
id
9190077
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:24:15
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:24:15
@misc{9190077,
  abstract     = {{Since ascending the French presidency in 2017, Emmanuel Macron has been faced with numerous foreign policy challenges. Two of his most puzzling challenges have been the relationships with Russia and the United States. Accordingly, the aim of this paper was to study the ways in which Macron rhetorically has navigated France vis-à-vis Russia 2017-2025 and the United States under Donald Trump, in light of a Russian geopolitical threat to Europe and a president of the United States who
imposes tariffs on trade and questions the United States’ role in NATO. Analysing Macron’s speeches at “significant moments”, this thematic analysis applied a theoretical framework of realpolitik to gain understanding of how Macron’s rhetoric vis-à-vis Russia compares to his rhetoric vis-à-vis the United States. The paper found that Macron uses ambiguous rhetoric vis-à-vis Russia through seeking common ground between France and Russia, while also strategically signaling limits to French–Russian fellowship upon Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Likewise, it found that Macron uses a rhetoric of “carrots and sticks” in relation to the United States through signaling a desired positive relationship while simultaneously criticising Trump in an attempt to guide the United States in a direction that is more beneficial for France.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Olle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Macron and the Language of Realpolitik: A Comparative Study of Macron’s Realpolitik Rhetoric Towards Russia (2017–2025) and the United States under President Trump}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}