Domestic and International Political Aspects of Crisis in Mali and French Military Operation ‘Serval'
The paper examines the French military operation in Mali codenamed ‘Serval' considered as an example of ‘hard power' tools effective use for foreign policy purposes. This operation was France's response to the outbreak of internal political crisis in Mali in 2012 and the involved threat of Islamists factions seizing power in the latter country. The author analyses internal and international prerequisites for the Mali crisis as well as official and real military, economic, and political aims behind the French intervention. Special attention is paid to the French­American and French­Chinese rivalry in Africa. The author comes to the conclusion that the main goal of the ‘Serval' operation is consolidation of the French strategic stance in Africa through institutionalization of the permanent military presence in Mali. The paper thoroughly examines the French government's actions aimed at international legitimization its engagement in Mali and propaganda support of operation ‘Serval' in mass media. The author stresses that despite seeming success, operation ‘Serval' might cause unforeseen woes not only for the Western African countries but for France as well.