Part 1: Historical and Institutional Foundations
1. French Politics and Society: Representations and Realities
2. The Making of Modern France
3. The Fifth Republic, 1958–1995: De Gaulle to Mitterrand
4. The Fifth Republic, 1995–2026: From Chirac to Macron
Part 2: Executive Power, the State and Territory
5. Presidents, Prime Ministers and Executive Power
6. Legislative Power and Judicial Control: The Constitution, Parliament and the Court
7. Reforming the French State
8. Territorial Governance and Decentralisation
Part 3: Representation, Trust and Interests
9. Political Trust and Democratic Malaise
10. Political Parties and the Party System
11. Interest Groups, Social Movements and State–Society Relations
Part 4: Society, Citizenship and France in the World
12. Society, Economy and the Social Model
13. Republican Citizenship, Diversity and Inclusion
14. France in Europe and the World
15. Is the French Republic in Danger?
Biography
Alistair Cole is Professor of Political Sciences at Sciences Po Lyon, France.
“The 4th edition of French Politics and Society is a highly readable text that covers all the bases. It provides a quick primer on the country’s history and a deep understanding of its institutions. It does an excellent job of tracking recent developments and evolutions in French politics and society. This book offers a terrific overview of France for students.”
Erik Bleich, Middlebury College, USA
“Alistair Cole is one of the leading commentators on France in the English-speaking world. This book is a comprehensive and detailed survey of French politics and society, which is an invaluable textbook for students seeking to understand their complexities. This fourth edition is a welcomed update of a system that has deep roots and continuities but is also subject to continual adaptation and change.”
John Loughlin, University of Oxford, UK
“This new edition of Alistair Cole's masterful book is eagerly awaited. Completely revised and updated, French Politics and Society is an essential work for students and researchers interested in the evolution of French governance. It is a fascinating book that combines a historical and political approach to understand the main issues and changes shaping contemporary France. I highly recommend it.”
Romain Pasquier, CNRS, Sciences Po Rennes, France
