Fifth French Republic: Presidents Politics and Personalities

<p><em>The Fifth French Republic</em> is 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 Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac.</p><p>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.</p>