Gaullism

Gaullism is a political ideology associated with Charles de Gaulle and the movements that followed him in postwar France. It originated in the Free French movement and became the guiding doctrine of the French state under the Fifth Republic, shaping both domestic policy and foreign affairs. Gaullism centers on national sovereignty, a strong centralized state, and France’s independent role in the world, often framed as the pursuit of national grandeur.

Key tenets of Gaullism include the primacy of the state and a powerful presidency, the insistence on national sovereignty in foreign and security policy, and a preference for a strong, dirigiste form of economic management that supports strategic industries and social welfare without embracing full socialist planning. Gaullism also emphasizes national unity, a sense of collective will, and leadership as a unifying force capable of decisive action in crisis.

In foreign policy, Gaullism advocates an autonomous course that resists subordination to external powers. De Gaulle pursued an independent nuclear deterrent, sought to negotiate France’s own security arrangements within NATO while maintaining strategic autonomy, and occasionally tested the balance between European integration and national sovereignty. Domestically, the movement championed a strong executive, constitutional reforms, and mechanisms such as referenda to resolve major questions, especially during state crises.

Historically, Gaullism shaped the early years of the Fifth Republic beginning in 1958 and remained influential through successive Gaullist parties, including the Rassemblement du peuple Français, Union for the Defense of the Republic, Rally for the Republic, and its successors. Critics argue that Gaullism produced excessive presidential power and centralized governance, while supporters credit it with stabilizing France and preserving strategic autonomy.

Today, Gaullism is considered a historical and ideological strand in French political thought, continuing to influence centrist and conservative debates on sovereignty, democracy, and national identity.