French politics: Debates and controversies

Book abstract:

This book provides an overview of contemporary controversies in French politics. The authors explore the numerous ways in which French politics can be interpreted, concluding that the study of French political life is being transformed in response to a changing global, European and domestic environment.

The preface sets out the methodology of the study and explains the organisation of each of the chapters. The first chapter is on the state and addresses the role that the state does and should play in the organisation of political life. It identifies the main themes running through the book, such as internationalisation, Europeanisation, the disaggregation of the policy-making process and the role of the public sector in modern democracies. The following three chapters consider a further three particular aspects of institutional politics: the distribution of responsibilities within the executive branch of government, the role of elite civil servants in the policy-making process and the power of local authorities to shape political outcomes. Chapter five deals with the influence of political parties and the extent to which they shape the decision-making process. The following chapter addresses elections and electoral behaviour and examines the issue of why people vote the way they do. Chapter seven is concerned with the ways in which collective social interests are expressed and represented and the extent to which interest groups are able to influence the policy-making process. Chapter eight examines the issue of whether there is something unique about French politics in a comparative context and focuses upon the impact of Europe on the French policy-making style. Each chapter presents its own conclusion so the final overall concluding chapter is brief and confined to reflections on developments in the discipline and future directions that intellectual inquiry may follow.

The aim of the authors is not just to inform but also to stimulate interest and debate of French political life and, as such, the book is suitable for all students and scholars of French politics.

Robert Elgie is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Nottingham. Steven Griggs is Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at Staffordshire University.