Governing And Governance In France

Description:
As a leading European nation with a particular state tradition and historical legacy, France has long fascinated foreign observers. In recent decades, the 'orthodox model' of French politics and policy-making has been challenged by powerful forces of globalization, Europeanisation, decentralization, administrative reform and changing patterns of state-society relations. In this compelling examination of French politics since the 1970s, Alistair Cole discusses these key challenges and identifies the key drivers of change. He argues that French-style governance is an untidy affair, rather than a neatly ordered and organized hierarchy, and that, though changes in France are comparable to those in other European Union countries, its governance is mediated by domestic institutions, interests and ideas. The pressures facing France are viewed through nationally specific lenses and mediated in ways that ensure that the French polity retains distinctive characteristics.

Review:
'Cole's book is a tour de force bringing together up to date research perspective on public policy and governance together with clear pedagogical presentation of complex changes within France. Far from old debates and characterisation of French exceptionalism, the book provides a unique analysis of the governance of France, based upon massive field work, a systematic use of the main comparative European literature and an original fine grain understanding of social and political changes. From champagne producers, education elites, Britanny cultural leaders, to regulatory agencies or the Council of the state, a different French society is governed through the instruments of a restructured state.' Patrick Le Gales, Directeur de recherche au CNRS, CEVIPOF and Professor of Sociology and Public Policy, Sciences Po2, Paris 'Built upon the firm foundations of exhaustive fieldwork and an immensely detailed grasp of both the contours of the French state, and the debates surrounding its contemporary evolution, Governing and Governance in France combines admirable empirical depth with impressive and insightful theoretical sophistication. Systematically situating French governance and state capacities in a broader comparative and conceptual context, Cole's outstanding book lucidly explores the dilemmas and difficulties of the profound political and economic transition from dirigiste market-steering state to France's contemporary regulatory, market-supporting state. This theoretically and empirically ambitious book also masterfully synthesises and critiques an impressive range of political science literature, and it will be compulsory reading for all serious scholars of the evolving nature of governance, and of contemporary French politics.' Dr Ben Clift, Associate Professor of Political Economy, University of Warwick

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Governing France; 2. Reforming the state; 3. Decentralisation and local governance; 4. Europeanisation; 5. State capacity and public policy; 6. State-society relations; 7. Making sense of the state; 8. Governing and governance in France.

Author Biography:
Alistair Cole is Professor of European Politics in the Politics Department of the School of European Studies, Cardiff University and one of the UK's leading scholars of French politics.