The changing French political system

France is experiencing a period of economic, social and political change. Change has affected the politics of representation, incorporating political parties and civil society; the organisation of political institutions, encompassing areas such as the constitution, the judiciary and local government; and public policy making, including the role of the state and the creation of new policy networks. And yet, the current period of change needs to be placed in context. In particular, change should be seen as an ongoing process which has not simply resulted in the transition from one distinct model of French politics to another. Moreover, while the current period of change raises new issues concerning the nature of the French political process, older questions, such as the supposed exceptionalism of French politics, still need to be addressed.