Contemporary France An Introduction to French Politics and Society [Paperback]

At least since the French Revolution, France has the peculair distinction of simultaneously fascinating, charming and exasperating its neighbours and foreign observers. Contemporary France provides an essential introduction for students of French politics and society, exploring contemporary developments while placing them in a deeper historical, intellectual, cultural and social context that makes for insightful analysis. Thus, chapters on France's economic policy and welfare state, its foreign and European policies and its political movements and recent institutional developments are informed by an analysis of the country's unique political and institutional traditions, distinct forms of nationalism and citizenship, dynamic intellectual life and recent social trends. Summaries of key political, economic and social movements and events are displayed as exhibits.Preface
1. Continuity and Change: Everlasting Past
2. French Society Today
3. The surprisingly stable Fifth Republic
4. Political forces and representation
5. Citizenship, Nationalism and National Identity
6. Intellectual life
7. Education, Youth and Popular Culture
8. French Economic and Social Policy in an era of growing European and international constraints.
9. France, Europe and the World
Conclusion
References David Howarth is Lecturer in European Politics at Queen Mary College, University of London.
Georgios Varouxakis is Lecturer in European Studies at Aston University, Birmingham.