Languages: French, English, Spanish
Areas of Expertise: Security crisis management, Multilateralism and United Nations, European Foreign Policy, Transatlantic Relations, Human Rights, International law and justice, Middle East and North Africa, French foreign policy.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is a senior policy fellow and head of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. His topics of focus range from multilateralism and the United Nations to the Middle East and North Africa.
From 2011 to 2015 Lafont Rapnouil headed the Political Affairs Division of the Department for UN affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development; in this capacity, he was responsible for French foreign policy at the United Nations Security Council, including peacekeeping and sanctions. Prior to that, he held various postings within the French diplomatic service, including in Washington and at the Policy Planning Staff (Centre d’Analyse, de Prévision et de Stratégie). Lafont Rapnouil was also a rapporteur for both French White papers on Defence and National Security and on Foreign and European Policy (2008). From 2008 to 2010, he was a Visiting Fellow at the Europe Programme of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 29 September 2015
France tows the German line on refugees, but with elections looming seeks to balance openness and firmness
by Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 10th April, 2018
France sees the MENA region as a state for foreign policy and great power politics and an opportunity to shape global politics and punch above its weight.
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by Findings of a reflection group led by Marta Dassù, Wolfgang Ischinger, Pierre Vimont, and Robert Cooper. Edited by Susi Dennison - 20th March, 2018
by Mathieu Duchâtel, Richard Gowan, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 14th June, 2016
China is taking on a new military role in Africa, seeking to boost its image as a great power that promotes peace and security worldwide.
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Manuel Lafont Rapnouil & Tara Varma - 08 October 2018
“Information manipulation” or just plain “fake news”? How France is grappling with a very modern threat
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil & Tara Varma & Nick Witney - 03 September 2018
Only if Europeans resume a serious debate about their responsibilities for their own security
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 20 June 2017
The rise of Macron has transformed the French political landscape – but its final shape is still emerging.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil & Jeremy Shapiro - 05 May 2017
Macron’s inexperience means he needs to reassure the electorate that he can manage the national security state.
François Godement & Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 10 April 2017
All major candidates see the international situation through the lens of Europe.
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Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 03 February 2017
So far, this French electoral cycle is something in between a roller coaster and a demolition game. The French political system is accustomed to crushing incumbents, but this time the destruction has been more inclusive.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 29 November 2016
No EU head of state has yet dared to break the EU’s consensus on Russian sanctions. Will François Fillon be the first?
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil - 14 October 2016
'Selective engagement' echoes perfectly France's preferred approach to Russia.
Anthony Dworkin steps in for Mark Leonard and speaks with Almut Möller, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil and Tom Nuttall about how significant the new treaty of friendship between France and Germany is. The podcast was recorded on the 17 January 2019.
Bookshelf:
Iron Kingdom by Christopher Clark
Wir sind ja nicht zum Spaß hier: Reportagen, Satiren und andere Gebrauchstexte by Deniz Yügel
La Faiblesse du vrai: Ce que la post-vérité fait à notre monde commun by Myriam Revault d'Allonnes
Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth
Warnings From Versailles: The Lessons of 1919, a Hundred Years On by Margaret MacMillan
Mark Leonard speaks with Erica Moret and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil about European sanctions policies, secondary sanctions and counter measures. The podcast was recorded on the 27 September 2018.
Bookshelf:
Keeping Europe Safe after Brexit - Findings of a reflection group led by Marta Dassù, Wolfgang Ischinger, Pierre Vimont, and Robert Cooper. Edited by Susi Dennison
Cassandra by Christa Wolf
Un publicista en apuros by Natalia Moret
Why Europe should focus on its growing interdependence with Africa by Jeremy Cliffe
La Rue vers L’Europe by Stephen Smith
Jeremy Shapiro covers for Mark Leonard and speaks with Ulrike Franke, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil and Piotr Buras, about what this means and what the Trump-Putin meeting might bring. The podcast was recorded on 12 July 2018.
Bookshelf:
Esprit Journal
Communique from NATO Summit 2018
The Swan King: Ludwig 2. of Bavaria by Christopher McIntosh
Mark Leonard speaks with Josef Janning, Silvia Francescon, Piotr Buras and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil about the major rift between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her interior minister over migrant policy.
Bookshelf:
L'Ordre du jour by Eric Vuillard
The Miracle Of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There by Rutger Bregman
The Mask it Wears by Pankaj Mishra
Mark Leonard speaks with Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, Almut Möller and Vessela Tcherneva, about what has changed in French foreign policy with Macron one year in office as French president.
Is France alone in the desert? ECFR experts Julien Barnes-Dacey and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil discuss how France can lead Europe in the Middle East.
Mark Leonard speaks with Jeremy Shapiro and Manuel Lafont Rapnouil about Macron and Merkel's meetings with the US president, and how the European leaders engaged with him.
Bookshelf:
Aux quatre vents du monde - Petit guide de navigation sur l'océan de la mondialisation by Mireille Delmas-Marty
The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachmann
Flattering Donald Trump reaps scant reward for Macron and Merkel by Jeremy Shapiro
How Europe Can Save the Iran Nuclear Deal by Mark Leonard
1968: Power to the Imagination by Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Claus Leggewie
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, directeur du bureau de Paris de l'ECFR, répond aux questions sur sa dernière publication, 'Seule dans le désert ? Comment la France peut remobiliser l’Europe au Moyen-Orient.'
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by Voice of America regarding the Aachen treaty.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by Le Journal du Dimanche regarding the Aachen treaty.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by Bloomberg regarding the Aachen treaty.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by The Sunday Times regarding the Aachen treaty.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by Le Figaro regarding the Global Compact for Migration.
Manuel Lafont Raponouil is interviewed by La Croix regarding Germany's proposal of an European seat at the Security Council.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by L'Orient-Le Jour regarding multilateralism, Trump and the United Nations.
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil participed in the BBC Radio regarding Macron's "European Army".
Manuel Lafont Rapnouil is quoted by Reuters regarding the Iran nuclear deal.