A New Idea of Europe: The Liberal Internationalism of the Nouvelle Revue Fran aise (1919-1925)

The paper argues that there is a new form of liberal internationalism developing in France in the years after the First World War. This new liberalism, whilst emphasising economic prosperity, introduces international solidarity as a key concept. It insisted on international interdependence being a result of a division of labour amongst national societies. The article then goes to the new liberal idea of European unity, made up of two distinct dimensions: an economic-sociological and a normative dimension, which were, in turn, the foundations for the project of functionalist institutionalisation on a European level. It finally presents the stance France should hold according to the Ònew liberal internationalistsÓ in the key problems of foreign policy, especially the problems of financial and economic reparations.