Alistair Cole, University of Cardiff

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2005
Format: Paper; 320 pp

ISBN-10:	0582473675
ISBN-13:	9780582473676

Our Price: £28.99
Status: Instock
Published: 27 Sep 2004

Assuming no previous knowledge and concentrating on the post-1981 era, this book introduces students to the fundamentals of French government and society.  French Politics and Society 2nd covers a broad spectrum of topics, including a description of French institutions, access to background information and discussions of historical developments, political forces, public policy, and the evolution of important aspects of French society.

Ideal for advanced undergraduate courses in Politics and European studies.

PART 1: THE MAKING OF MODERN FRANCE

1. The making of modern France

2. France since 1958

3. French political culture

PART 2: INSTITUTIONS AND POWER

4. Presidents and Prime Ministers

5. Checks and balances?

6. The immobile State?

7. Local and regional government

PART 3: POLITICAL FORCES AND REPRESENTATION

8. The French party system

9. French parties today

10. The representation of interests

PART 4: RESHAPING MODERN FRANCE

11. Society, citizenship and identity

12. The economy and economic governance

13. Europe and europeanisation

14. Reinventing French politics and society

Bibliography

Appendices

Appendix 1: Presidential elections in the Fifth Republic

Appendix 2: Presidential election run-offs

Appendix 3: National Assembly elections, 1958-2002

• Incorporates an extensive analysis of the socialist reforms of the 1980's and includes coverage of the administrative state, local and regional governance and the representation of interests
• Overviews the evolution of the French party system
• Each chapter contains a decisive introductory section which includes learning objectives and concludes with a summary, conclusion and bibliography.
• Extensively references English Language and French literature

• Updated to take account of developments up to the end of 2003, in particular the experience of the third ?cohabitation? (1997-2002), the 2002 presidential and parliamentary elections, and the first eighteen months of the Raffarin Government
• Three new chapters: 1. Society, Citizenship and Identity; 2. The Economy of Economic Governance, 3. Europe and Europeanisation
• Contains much new research, including survey material and extensive interviews
• More coverage on global economic change, the impact of European integration, and pressures for economic convergence
• Revised account of interest groups in French politics
• Extends coverage of French political culture