The Fifth French Republic: Presidents, Politics and Personalities: A Study of French Political Culture

by Thody,Philip

• ISBN13: 9780415187541
• ISBN10: 0415187540
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1998-11-24
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The Fifth French Republicis a study of modern French politics and history, discussing the five presidents who span from 1959 to the present--Charles de Gaulle, Georges Pompidou, Valry Giscard d'Estang, Fran5~ois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac. Philip Thody examines the importance of the similarities between the five men for an understanding of the general and political culture of France; the similarities and differences in the foreign policies pursued by the five presidents, including anti-Americanism; France's role in the European Union and her attitude to the Cold War; French domestic policies and administrative practices, attempts to decentralize the state, the role of the French civil service, the problem of immigration and the rise of the National Front.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	viii
Glossary	ix
Introduction	1	(3)
Charles de Gaulle: the founding father	4	(33)
Georges Pompidou: the conscientious uncle	37	(27)
Valery Giscard d'Estaing: the ambitious nephew	64	(26)
Francois Mitterrand: the rebellious brother	90	(33)
Jacques Chirac: the impulsive grandson	123	(27)
Conclusion	150	(3)
Appendix A French regimes from 1792 to 1958	153	(1)
Appendix B Prime ministers of the Fifth Republic	154	(2)
Appendix C A note on the French civil service	156	(5)
Notes	161	(6)
Annotated bibliography	167	(3)
Index	170