America, Europe, Africa, 1945-1973- LAmrique, lEurope, lAfrique, 1945-1973

Written in memory of Alfred Cahen, Honorary Professor at the Universite libre de Bruxelles and Ambassador of Belgium, this book is inspired by the main stages of his career: European integration, the transatlantic partnership and relations between Belgium and her ex-colonies. The focus is on transatlantic relations and the place of Europe in international relations between 1945 and 1973. The role played by the United States in the post-war reconstruction of Europe and the evolution of the transatlantic partnership from Truman to Nixon are first examined. The authors then portray attempts to achieve European military integration - with an emphasis on the evolution of the Western (European) Union -, the saga of the Multilateral Force and the difficulties associated with the creation of a nuclear Europe. The final chapters deal with Belgian Africa and the project of the European Political Community and explore relations between Belgium and her ex-colonies. Ecrit en hommage a Alfred Cahen, Professeur honoraire a l'Universite libre de Bruxelles et ambassadeur de Belgique, ce livre est inspire par les jalons principaux de sa carriere - construction europeenne, partenariat atlantique, relations entre la Belgique et ses anciennes colonies. L'ouvrage se focalise sur les relations transatlantiques et la place de l'Europe dans les relations internationales de 1945 a 1973. Il insiste premierement sur la place des Etats-Unis dans la reconstruction de l'Europe d'apres-guerre, et dresse le tableau de l'evolution du partenariat atlantique de Truman a Nixon. Il depeint ensuite les tentatives d'integration militaire europeenne, y compris l'evolution de l'Union (de l'Europe) occidentale, les peripeties de la Force multilaterale et les difficultes de la creation d'une Europe nucleaire. Il met enfin l'accent sur l'Afrique belge et le projet de la Communaute politique europeenne et explore la relation entre la Belgique et ses anciennes colonies.