France since the 1970s: History, Politics and Memory in an Age of Uncertainty

(Hardback)

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Until the mid-20th century, France saw itself as a great power with universalist aspirations and global ambitions. But the Second World War and decolonisation irrevocably changed Frances place in the world. Despite attempts to restore the countrys grandeur in the 1960s, the French have been forced to reconcile themselves to their modest place at the heart of a changing Europe. What impact has this had on political life How have the French reimagined the revolutionary, republican and reactionary ideologies that have been so crucial to their history How has the arrival of hundreds of thousands of postcolonial migrants transformed politics These are just some of the questions at the heart of France since the 1970s. With contributions from leading specialists on topics as varied as the legacy of empire and neo-liberalism, it explores how the French have dealt with the pervasive sense of uncertainty that has become a defining feature of contemporary European politics.

Reviews

A fantastic collection of essays providing a much-needed update of numerous areas that will be of great interest to students and scholars of France, no less so through how it opens up so many new avenues for us all to explore. * Modern and Contemporary France *
The impressive cast of contributors ... [have produced] an engaging and refreshing collection ... The consistent quality of the essays here, and their accessibility even when presenting complex ideas and debates, mean that the volume should be of interest to advanced undergraduates as well as to researchers from a wide range of disciplines. * French Studies *
[A] tightly managed and well-conceived reflection on contemporary French politics at a timely moment in French political history. The volume gathers together an impressive array of social scientists and historians from a number of backgrounds ... [and] offers a singular perspective on French politics, reframing a narrative of fracture with a compelling analysis of uncertainty. * Journal of Contemporary History *
The short summary of a review cannot do justice to the richness of the subjects and the international perspectives on offer here. * Neue Politsche Literatur (Bloomsbury translation) *
All of the essays [in this collection] contribute to the recent history of France ... [and] many of them point to the importance of developments not bound by the post-1970s era ... Curious readers will certainly want to follow up this volume. * Books and Ideas *

Author Bio

Emile Chabal is a Chancellors Fellow in History at the University of Edinburgh, UK.