Assess the effectiveness of Napoleon III's foreign policy. How did his foreign policy affect the political development of France up to 1871?

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Assess the effectiveness of Napoleon III's foreign policy. How did his foreign policy affect the political development of France up to 1871?

In general terms, Napoleon's foreign policy was much less successful than his domestic policy was. Generally speaking, the aims of his foreign policy were to present France as the champion of oppressed people throughout Europe, to create new countries, which would be grateful to France, to maintain good relation with Britain and to maintain a balance of power between Austria and Prussia.

Napoleon's foreign policy was shown effective in the Crimean War 1854-56. His aims were to increase French prestige, to isolate Austria, to diminish Russian influence and to maintain good relation with Britain. In the Crimean War, France was successful in achieving these aims. According to Norman Rich, " France was the state that seemed to have gained most from the war." This quotation shows us that his foreign policy was able to achieve his aims. French armies had won the most impressive victories in the Final attacks on Sevastopol and France had supplanted Russia as the dominant power in Europe, which helped France to increase her prestige. Besides, he was