When Charles de Gaulle declared that it is because we are no longer a great power that we need a grand policy, he neatly summarized France s predicament on the world scene. In this compact and engaging history, author Frederic Bozo deftly recounts France s efforts to reconcile its proud history and global ambitions with a realistic appraisal of its capabilities, from the aftermath of World War II to the present. He provides insightful analysis of the nation s triumphs and setbacks through the years of decolonization, Cold War maneuvering, and European unification, as well as the more contemporary challenges posed by an increasingly multipolar and interconnected world.