Charles de Gaulle's Legacy and Impact on Postwar France

Explore the legacy and political significance of Charles de Gaulle in this 47-minute lecture from Yale University's "France Since 1871" course. Examine de Gaulle's conscious construction of his public image and its impact on France's collective imagination. Analyze how he positioned France in the Cold War era, balancing between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Investigate the parallels between de Gaulle and the Napoleons, considering the concept of a "Republican Monarchy." Delve into de Gaulle's strategies for maintaining French influence in the Third World and his military policies. Reflect on the lasting impact of de Gaulle's symbolic importance compared to his political innovations. The lecture also touches on contemporary issues, opening with a discussion of unrest in Parisian suburbs in 2007.