| Abstract: | This paper puts forward three hypotheses of overseas military bases’ "Efficacy Theory" and attempts to put them into test with empirical case study of French military bases in Djibouti. It reveals that French bases in the country have lasted one and a half century, stretching from colonial and the cold war to post-cold war periods with three fundamental functions of "confronting Britain", "competing for the third-power status after the U. S. and the U. S. S. R", and "acting as a new platform for western initiative of combating terrorism and piracy" respectively. Located at the midway of the "Arc of Crisis", Djibouti plays a pivotal role in safeguarding French strategic interest in the Arab-Islamic world. As both an Arab and African country, it adheres to a moderate foreign policy, and sets a model of western democracy in Arab-Islamic countries. French overseas military bases there also benefit Djibouti in state revenue and in safeguarding its national security. After the Middle East upheaval in 2011, it is likely that the French will come back to North Africa militarily and establish military presence there, so that its domestic Toulon military base, military presence in North Africa, military bases in Djibouti and Abu Dhabi will be interconnected, and France may secure its dominant position in the regional affairs in the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Red Sea, Aden and Persian Gulf. |
