This engaging new account of French politics takes an unconventional approach to its turbulent subject. Rather than seeing a political history of rupture and fragmentation, Hazareesingh emphasizes continuity, and shows how opposing parties and movements throughout French history have been brought together by ideas.
Treating French political history from 1789 to the present, Hazareesingh focuses on the relationship between ideologies and political movements. He covers all the important features of French public life in the period, including the nature of republicanism, nationalism, and religion and the role of intellectuals. These features in turn provide the setting for his treatment of peace movements and the political traditions of liberalism, socialism, Gaullism, and communism.
Written in a clear and accessible style, this book will be invaluable guide to French politics for students and scholars and an informative introduction for general readers interested in France.