Description
When Francois Mitterrand was elected President of the Republic in 1981 a new, radical era began in French politics. But within the space of a few years the Socialist-Communist government felt obliged to change tack and abandon many of its more adventurous policies. Hewlett's central question is whether one should talk of "consensus" politics under Mitterrand or even the end of conflict and revolt, for which France had been so famous. He looks at the modern political history of France in comparison with other countries, including Britain, Sweden and Germany. He also considers the significance of various "modernizing" aspects of modern France, including Gaullism, May 1968 and the role of intellectuals. Finally, Modern French Politics relates the examination of change in France to more general theories of change in late capitalism.
This informative and refreshing book is scholarly but does not mystify. It presents an original way of examining party-political, institutional and electoral developments, and will be essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students of French politics and European Studies.
About the Author
Nick Hewlett is Chair of the Centre for European Research at Oxford Brookes University.
Reviews
"In a subject area where the textbooks tend to be bland and highly descriptive it is good to have a distinctive voice propounding a consistent viewpoint around which debate and discussion can be structured." Professor Anne Stevens, University of Kent at Canterbury
"A useful summary of twentieth century French politics, both on the left and the right." Political Studies
Book Information
ISBN 9780745611204
Author Nick Hewlett
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 154mm * 19mm
